Ten charities have won GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) IMPACT Awards for their outstanding contributions to improving the UK’s health and well-being, GSK and The King’s Fund announced last night at the awards ceremony held at the Science Museum.

GSK’s accolade, run in partnership with The King’s Fund, awards at least £30,000 to each organisation, and provides them with training so they are able to take their organisations to the next level.

A further £10,000 will be awarded to the overall winner, announced at the awards ceremony itself for the first time.

This year’s winners cover a wide range of specialisms and represent all areas of the UK.

These include one successfully targeting the mental health needs of young people involved in gangs and highly antisocial behaviour; supporting women with mental health issues with a holistic approach including their wider socio-economic needs; and one supporting people with Huntington’s Disease, an incurable progressive hereditary disease.

The GSK IMPACT Awards, GSK’s flagship UK community investment programme, recognises the crucial role charities play in dealing with some of the most difficult health issues, while promoting innovation and good practice across the sector.

Katie Pinnock, Director, UK Corporate Contributions at GSK, said: "This year’s winners show what an incredible impact charities can have on the health of the local community across the UK and why it is so important that we continue to support them.

"It is remarkable what these organisations have achieved with the small budgets and we hope that the £30,000 funding for each organisation, along with the recognition of the awards, with help them to continue this work."

Lisa Weaks, Third Sector programme manager at The King’s Fund, said: "These charities show clearly how health charities can transform people’s lives in such diverse ways. They add value to the public services already given, providing innovative answers to difficult issues.

"These are challenging times for charities, especially smaller ones like these; the commissioning system in health care has changed dramatically in recent years and The King’s Fund’s research has found that the financial climate is putting them at risk.

"It is important that their value is recognised through awards like these, and provide them with the training to improve their organisations and secure their future success."

As well as receiving the significant funding, the GSK IMPACT Award winners attend a development programme hosted by The King’s Fund that provides training, development and networking opportunities.

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