Northern charities could win £22,000 in support and funding with Weston Charity Awards

HULL, U.K. - EntSun -- Ambitious charities across the North of England, the Midlands, and Wales are invited to apply for the 2026 Weston Charity Awards, which offer transformational support packages worth over £22,000 each.

Up to 22 charities working in community, environment, welfare, or youth sectors will be selected for this substantial programme of support, designed to help organisations strengthen their leadership, plan for sustainable growth, and build long-term resilience.

Delivered through a partnership between the Garfield Weston Foundation and charity partner Pilotlight, each winner receives £6,500 in unrestricted funding, plus access to Pilotlight 360 – a year-long programme of strategic mentoring and leadership development valued at around £16,000.

Each front-line charity is matched with a team of senior business professionals, known as Pilotlighters, who provide tailored coaching on topics such as income diversification, business planning, long-term strategy, volunteer recruitment, and operational efficiency. This expert guidance helps small charities gain the skills and capacity to thrive in an increasingly challenging environment.

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Eligible registered charities include those that have delivered a service for over two years, have at least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position, and have an income of less than £5 million per year.

Since launching in 2014, over 200 charities have received Weston Charity Awards. A recent independent evaluation analysing the 10-year impact of the programme revealed that almost all leaders reported that their charity is more operationally fit after winning (96%), with four out of five stating that the improvements are still felt to this day (83%). Winners also reported having more effective senior leadership (98%) as well as a clearer organisational purpose (91%).

Clare Gough, Director at the Garfield Weston Foundation, said:

"Charities are under more pressure than ever, with rising costs, funding competition, and growing need. The Weston Charity Awards use a unique combination of expert mentoring and funding to help build an achievable plan for sustainable growth that gets charities future-ready. Winners can then concentrate on what matters most, delivering impact within their community."

The Weston Charity Awards application deadline is 5pm on Friday 9 January 2026.

To find out more and apply, visit: www.pilotlight.org.uk/weston-charity-awards