# Weston Charity Awards expand to support charities across Northern England

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/01/20/weston-charity-awards-expand-support-charities-across-northern-england/
- Published: 2015-01-20T07:02:36+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Weston Charity Awards, [launched in the North East of England last year](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2014/01/29/weston-charity-awards-benefit-charities-ne-england/),
is this year expanding to help small charities across the North of England.

Established by the Garfield Weston Foundation, The Weston Charity Awards will help
small charities across the North, including both rural areas and cities such as 
Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Hull and Durham, working in 
the areas of **youth, welfare and community**.

It did so after seeing a sharp drop in funding applications despite evidence of 
growing need for support. A survey, carried out by Voluntary Organisations’ Network
North East (VONNE), showed that although 7 in 10 charities were seeing an increase
in demand for help, 44% warned they might have to reduce services and over 20% said
they could face closure this year.

## Advertisement

The 12 selected charities will receive unrestricted funding and support from a team
of senior business leaders through [Pilotlight](http://www.pilotlight.org.uk/), 
which will help them to become more sustainable and achieve their aims. Over the
past 10 years, the charity has connected business executives and charities: the 
former develop their leadership skills in new areas and the latter receive experienced
business coaching.

The Garfield Weston Foundation’s Director, Philippa Charles, explained why the awards
were being extended. She said:

> “Over the last three years we’ve been shocked to see a significant decline in 
> the number of funding applications from charities in the North. What’s really 
> worrying is that applications from organisations providing community services 
> fell by about 40% – the very areas hit hard by funding cuts. By building on the
> success of the first ever Weston Charity Awards in the North East, we want to 
> reach more charities across the North, helping them to achieve their goals.”

VONNE’s chief executive, Jo Curry welcomed the move, saying:

> “This continued support of a national funder who has seen the need here in the
> region and has acted upon it is very much welcomed.”

The Foundation hopes to extend the Weston Charity Awards even further afield.

Eligible charities should [apply for the Weston Charity Awards](http://www.westoncharityawards.org)
by 30 January 2015.

 * **[vInspired opens Goodstock, its first charity fashion shop for young people](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/02/09/vinspired-opens-goodstock-first-charity-fashion-shop-young-people/)**(
   9 February 2015)
 * **[Winners of Weston Charity Awards announced](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/06/03/winners-of-weston-charity-awards-announced/)**(
   3 June 2015)
 * **[£100k grant kickstarts campaign to distribute £1 million of school clothes to Manchester children in poverty](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/07/02/100k-grant-kickstarts-campaign-to-distribute-1m-of-school-clothes-to-manchester-children-in-poverty/)**(
   2 July 2015)