Garfield Weston Foundation says too few charities are applying for core costs over fears they’ll be turned down
The Garfield Weston Foundation has revealed that only a quarter of charities are applying for funding for their core costs, putting charities and their services at risk. The Foundation called the trend “worrying”, as it announced the winners of the Weston Charity Awards that gives small charities across the North of England and the Midlands unrestricted funding and strategic support.
The Garfield Weston Foundation’s Director, Philippa Charles, says:
“Our job is to support charities to become more resilient and sustainable so that they can do more of their excellent work – that’s why we launched the Weston Charity Awards. Yet, we were shocked to find that only 25% of charities applying to us over the last five years ask for funding for core costs. Supporting the running costs of a charity is crucial if we are to avoid charities experiencing a slow decline. Charities tell us they are too afraid to ask for this sort of funding for fear of being turned down. Having supported thousands of charities over the last 60 years, we know how important it is that charities feel able to apply for this sort of funding so that they can continue to deliver great services.”
Sixteen charities working in the areas of youth, welfare and community have won Weston Charity Awards this year and alongside funding, they will have access to a team of senior business leaders through the organisation Pilotlight.
The awards come at a time when charities are seeing demand for their services increase while budgets are being cut and small charities’ income is falling. According to research by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) around 60,000 organisations (37%) are running without any reserves. NCVO: Civil Society Almanac 2016: https://data.ncvo.org.uk/a/almanac16/
Michelle Nicholson, says being chosen as a winner of the Weston Charity Awards couldn’t have come at a better time:
“We have set some good foundations and we are making good progress with the women who access our services. We’d really like to have a stronger plan to build on that. For instance, we recognise that getting these women back into employment can be very difficult. Not all employers are able to support them in the way that we do, and so we’d like to develop a social enterprise, such as a coffee bar or printing service, that will enable us to get more of these women into jobs.”
Pilotlight’s chief executive, Gillian Murray, says:
“For most small charities it is vital to have a solid plan in place to be stronger and more resilient organisations in today’s challenging environment. Having worked with hundreds of charities we know that being able to partner with a team of dynamic business leaders means that they can develop their leadership skills and plan strategically to achieve long-term sustainability. Former award winners report that they feel better equipped and more confident to face the future, especially as they continue to see demand for their services increase.”
The 16 winning charities will received their awards in a celebration event on Thursday 9 June at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. 
Having expanded the awards to reach charities across the North of England and the Midlands, the Garfield Weston Foundation hopes the awards might develop further and reach more areas of the UK.
Winners of the Weston Charity Awards 2016:
• Apex Charitable Trust – supports former offenders into employment, training, education and voluntary work across Merseyside
• Disability Action Yorkshire – Harrogate-based charity providing services that help disabled people live life the way they want to
• Falcon Support Services – works with those that are homeless, at risk of homelessness or vulnerable within Leicestershire, providing supported accommodation and community projects to help them live independently and positively contribute to their communities
• Hope Support Services – provides support for young people when a close family member is diagnosed with a life threatening illness, locally in Herefordshire & Gloucestershire and nationally via its Hope Online portal
• Key Changes – Unlocking Women’s Potential – is a gender-specific organisation designed to support and tackle social barriers for women who have experienced the criminal justice system and those at risk of offending in South Yorkshire
• LD:NorthEast – supports people with learning disabilities and their carers across North Tyneside and Newcastle
• Malvern Special Families – provides safe, stimulation and fun social opportunities to children and young people with disabilities in South Worcestershire
• Project 6 – works to reduce harm caused by substance abuse for individuals and their families in Keighley and Airedale, West Yorkshire
• SAFE – Greater Manchester-based charity working to prevent human trafficking by educating those at risk and the industries where trafficked people are exploited
• Sight Advice South Lakes – supports blind and partially-sighted people across Cumbria to maintain their independence
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