Weston Charity Awards Winners 2023

Hynod o falch i ddweud wrthoch: We are still waiting on the official pictures (where CEO Kate dressed slightly less like a farmer and went to Birmingham!) but we are bursting with excitement and pride to announce that we are winners of a 2023 Weston Charity Award! This means that we get £6500 unrestricted funding but more importantly we get a ten month programme with Pilotlight to help us focus, grow and flourish on our development to make sure we continue to thrive and be there for people in need for years to come! It's also nice in this sector, to get a little validation that your charity is awesome and important especially at a time when we are facing huge challenges to adapt to less funding and increased demand for services.

The award gives us the chance to invest in its future with ten months of strategic planning support from a dedicated team of four business experts, thanks to pro bono charity Pilotlight and a core grant of £6,500 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

We were chosen from over 100 applicants, all of whom are frontline charities delivering youth, welfare, community or environment services in the North of England, the Midlands and Wales. Other local/regional charities to be selected are Carmarthen Youth Project and Welsh Refugee Council (WRC).

Kate Gibbs from Swansea Community Farm said:

‘The Farm has been supporting the community to improve wellbeing and the local environment for over 20 years, this has never been more important than in the last few years. It’s a really tough time for our community with health inequalities and the cost-of-living crisis really taking their toll and with the need to address the nature and climate emergencies. We are perfectly placed to develop our business to help other organisations meet the challenges posed by the mental health and climate crises. We will really benefit from Pilotlight and the input of business experts to develop ways of sharing our expertise in community led solutions to the challenges of our time’

In congratulating Swansea Community Farm Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation said:

“Our Trustees are delighted to be able to support a record number of charities this year through the Weston Charity Awards. The Awards underscore the Foundation's passion for nurturing and empowering charities to thrive and support those who need it most.”

Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Pilotlight, the charity which is connecting Swansea Community Farm with a team of coaches drawn from a range of businesses and other organisations said:

“When you fall, you want someone to catch you. Small charities offer a safety net for so many people who are vulnerable and in need. Yet small charities typically do not have the support and help that they need themselves in order to sustain their work and spread their impact. We are proud to be able to assist 23 inspiring charities through the Weston Charity Awards over the coming year.”