# Guardian Charity Awards winners, & Charity Governance Awards & Charity Awards open for entries - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/12/07/guardian-charity-awards-winner-charity-governance-awards-charity-awards-open-entries/ - Published: 2015-12-07T09:00:37+00:00 - Author: Melanie May **In what has been a challenging year for the fundraising sector, charity awards provide some welcome opportunities to celebrate everything that is good about the sector.** Despite the difficult climate, almost 1,300 small and medium-sized charities entered this year’s [Guardian Charity Awards](http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/series/charity-awards-2015), which took place earlier this month. The five winners were: [Action Foundation](http://www.actionfoundation.org.uk/), [Environmental and Management Solutions](http://www.emsyorkshire.co.uk/), [Hand on Heart](http://www.handonheart.org/), [The Brilliant Club](http://www.thebrilliantclub.org/), and [Working Chance](http://www.workingchance.org/). The awards recognise charities that deliver innovative and practical solutions, with the winners each receiving £3,000 and a day’s business mentoring from award sponsor Zurich, free membership of the NCVO, tailored support packages from the FSI, and the Media Trust, tailored trustee training from Bates Wells Braithwaite, and an iPad from Jigsaw24. ## Advertisement Manchester-based Hand on Heart works to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest among children and young people. Founder and chairman David Howarth commented on the charity’s win: > “I’m so proud of what we have achieved over the last three years and to receive > national recognition for all that hard work. Receiving this award will help raise > the profile of Hand on Heart, which is fantastic as it will ultimately help us > achieve our objectives.” There are more opportunities to come: two sets of awards have recently announced that they are open for entries: the New Philanthropy Capital’s (NPC) [Charity Governance Awards 2016](https://www.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk/cwc/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=546&eventID=2&eventID=2), and Civil Society’s [Charity Awards 2016](http://www.charityawards.co.uk/). Charities have until 15^(th) January to [enter ](https://www.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk/cwc/frontend/reg/tOtherPage.csp?pageID=616&ef_sel_menu=18&eventID=2&eventID=2) the Charity Governance Awards, and there are six awards to be won. Charities can enter one of three Improving Impact categories, for charities with 3 paid staff or fewer (including those with no paid staff), those with 4–25 paid staff, and those with 26 paid staff or more. The remaining three categories are: Board Diversity & Inclusivity, Managing Turnaround, and Embracing Opportunity & harnessing risk. Charities may only submit one entry across all six awards. Winners will receive £5000 to put towards their work. There is no charge for entry and the awards ceremony takes place at the Clothworkers’ Hall on 12 May 2016. The 2016 Charity Awards are now in their 17^(th) year. Entry is free, and open to charities of all sizes. There are 10 sector categories including: arts, culture and heritage, disability, and environment and conservation. In addition there are the Overall Winner, and Outstanding Achievement categories. Charities have until 4^(th) March to [enter](http://www.charityawards.co.uk/enter-now/), and the shortlist will be announced on Civil Society News on 9th May, with the awards evening taking place a month later on 9^(th) June at new venue The Mermaid, in Blackfriars. * **[British Citizen Awards winners announced](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/01/15/british-citizen-awards-winners-announced/)**( 15 January 2016) * **[Yorkshire Bank’s community awards open for applications](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/02/16/yorkshire-bank-spirit-of-the-community-awards-open-for-applications/)**( 16 February 2016) * **[GSK and Save the Children announce $1 million Healthcare Innovation Award winners](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/02/29/gsk-save-the-children-announce-1m-healthcare-innovation-award-winners/)**( 29 February 2016) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)