Charity Heroes Awards: Finalists announced!

Supporting charities is at the heart of everything we do, so we’re delighted to have launched our 2025 Charity Heroes Awards – dedicated to celebrating outstanding charities that work tirelessly to create positive change.

Thank you to all the charities who entered the awards – our judges enjoyed reading so many brilliant stories.

Congratulations to our finalists! Find out more below.

The Awards 2025

We’ll be recognising those who’ve made exceptional contributions across the categories listed below. Each award is supported by a business in our Group¹.

Founder of the Year

Recognising the incredible individuals who have founded impactful charities, we’re looking for founders who have used their drive and passion to create organisations making a lasting and meaningful difference for beneficiaries.

Finalists

Andrew Wallis, Unseen (UK)
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Jenny Rayner, The Lucy Rayner Foundation
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Maggie Darling, Smart Works Scotland
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Climate Action Initiative

We’re looking for innovative projects that are tackling the climate crisis and promoting long term sustainability. This could be in any area of climate – from community education, nature restoration to adaptation.

Finalists

Borders Forest Trust
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Grace Cares CIC
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WWT
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Triumph Through Adversity

We’re looking for an outstanding charity that has shown resilience by overcoming a challenge or difficulty it faced in the last year, coming out the other end stronger and still delivering amazing impact for its beneficiaries.

Finalists

South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services
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The Matthew 25 Mission
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Vida Sheffield
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Fundraiser of the Year

We’re looking for individuals who have not only delivered great financial results in the last year, but have shown collaboration, strategic thinking and creativity in their approach. (Note: By fundraiser, we mean professionals or volunteers in charge of organising and running fundraising campaigns).

Finalists

Jill McGrath, YMCA Tayside
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Martin Edwards, Julia’s House Limited
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Nic Clarke, Cancer Research Wales
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Partnership of the Year

We’re looking for an outstanding partnership between two organisations who have collaborated in the last year to make a positive impact. The partnership may take many forms including a company and a charity, or two charities working together.

Finalists

Berkshire Vision & Newbury Velo
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Teens Unite Fighting Cancer & Kinovo Limited
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The Anne Robson Trust & Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Trustee of the Year

We’re looking for outstanding trustees who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact for their charity.

Finalists

Jan Kerr, Homelands Trust-Fife
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Jennie Henderson, Stepping Stones North Wales
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Mimi McCord, Heartburn Cancer UK
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Colleagues’ choice

Benefact Group colleagues will be able to vote for their favourite charity from those presented by our very own ‘Giving Superstars’ (employees who have gone over and above supporting their favourite causes).

Finalists

The Hygiene Bank
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Unique Kids & Co
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The Grand Appeal
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¹Givestar is a digital fundraising platform, not a business in the Benefact Group. The Group is an investor in Givestar.

A winning event

Finalists will be invited to a lunchtime awards event within the walls of the iconic Tower of London where the winners and runners-up in each category will be announced. Our guests will also have the opportunity to celebrate and connect with fellow changemakers and hear from industry experts.

We will be inviting two people from each shortlisted charity to attend the awards luncheon.

The prizes:

Winning charities in each category will win £5,000.

Runners up in each category will win £1,000.

2024 Winners and runners-up

Our finalists gathered at the iconic Tower of London to enjoy a day of celebration as we congratulated the winners and runners-up in our Charity Heroes Awards.

See the winners and runners up