Over the last year, six charities from across the North East of England have had access to a team of senior business leaders through Pilotlight, as part of the Weston Charity Awards. We are pleased to announce the overall winner and to confirm that the Garfield Weston Foundation will expand the awards to charities in the Midlands area, alongside the ongoing work in the North.
Pilotlight’s Chief Executive, Gillian Murray, says:
“We know that many small charities are finding it tough to fund their work and cope with an increase in demand for their services. As the spending review next week looks set to announce more cuts, it’s more important than ever that charities have access to strategic business support. By bringing together charity chief executives with dynamic business leaders we see how charities benefit and become more sustainable as a result.”
Horden Youth & Community Centre (HYCC), which helps disadvantaged and isolated families in one of the most deprived areas of the country, has been chosen as the first ever regional winner.
HYCC Centre Manager, Steve Clark, says winning the award couldn’t have come at a better time:
“This has been a game-changing experience for us. I was always the financial worrier – thinking how are we going to pay this core cost? How will we afford that? However the business team really supported us in putting a new financial infrastructure and long-term strategy in place. We are now able to expand our services and our income is rising as a result. We are fighting fit and that’s a great feeling.”
Find out more about the Weston Charity Awards