Grant applications open for Weston Charity Awards 2022
Melanie May | 1 December 2021 | News
Now in their eighth year, the Weston Charity Awards offer a package of support worth over £22,000 to small charities in the North of England, Midlands, and Wales through a partnership between The Garfield Weston Foundation and its charity partner, Pilotlight.
Unrestricted grants of £6,500 are available for up to 20 charities to use to instigate strategic change and accelerate innovative growth. Winning applicants also gain free access to the Pilotlight 360 programme – a ten-month package of leadership coaching it estimates is worth around £16,000.
Award winners receive leadership mentoring from four senior professionals across diverse private and public sector organisations. These “Pilotlighters” offer in-depth guidance on everything from creative operational improvements and efficiencies to sustainable long-term business strategies.
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Winning charities will also access collaborative opportunities and events through Pilotlight’s network of UK charities, two connect sessions with other award recipients to share best practice, and a celebratory event for all award-winners on conclusion of the programme.
The call for applications is open to registered charities working with beneficiaries in the North of England, the Midlands, and Wales and specialising in the fields of community, welfare or youth. Charities also need to have at least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position and an income of less than £5 million per year to be eligible.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 7 January 2022.
Philippa Charles, Director of The Garfield Weston Foundation, said:
“Now more than ever, charities are seeking support to ensure a robust strategic future. We know that although good charities are keen to spend time on long-term planning, they are often limited by resources and staffing, even more so during this period of economic recovery.
“The Garfield Weston Foundation has partnered with Pilotlight to change this through the Weston Charity Awards. These award grants offer a package of thought-provoking leadership coaching and vital funding to nurture talent and amplify a charity’s potential impact.
“Successful award winners can receive the support needed to bounce back from Covid-19 and enhance their in-house leadership skills, establish long-term business plans, and take their organisations to the next level of operations.”
Last year’s winners work across a variety of areas including domestic violence, refugee action, employability skills, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) theatre, physical impairment or mental health support, sports and activity centres, and homelessness among other causes.
WATCH: Weston Charity Awards 2020-2021
Weston Charity Awards 2020 – 2021 from Pilotlight on Vimeo.
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.