HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Triodos Bank

As an independent not-for-profit foundation, CAF focuses on delivering services that increase charities’ funds, irrespective of their size or financial standing. Empathy and constant interaction with the sector has enabled its Charity Financial Services Division to offer a range of bank accounts, investment funds and workshops that reflect its motto, to have “a financial head and a charitable heart”.

The Fairtrade Foundation is now celebrating its tenth anniversary, and has reached this milestone, bigger and bolder, becoming both a household name and an international phenomenon that reaches 5 million farmers and their families across 48 countries. With 15 new products in the last year alone, The Foundation has established the UK as the world’s second largest Fairtrade market. Thanks to the work of The Fairtrade Foundation, it is the UK that continues to drive the worldwide success of Fairtrade.

A true innovator of services, Su Sayer has been at the forefront of caring for people with learning difficulties for over 30 years. A pioneer who championed care in the community long before Government interest, she set up the first United Response support service in a small house in 1972. Her charity has since grown to become a top 100 charity with an income topping £40 million andcurrently supporting over 1,200 people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 27, Tom Isaacs has done everything he can to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for the disease. Acting as an ambassador for the young he has tackled misconceptions about the disease, one in ten of whose sufferers are under forty. His personal challenge, named 'Coastin' has seen Tom walking 4,500 miles around the coastline of Britain; a remarkable achievement given that Parkinson's significantly affects a person's movement. Tom has single-handedly raised £350,000 for research into Parkinson's disease

At a time when undue strain was placed upon the charity’s support services due to industrial action, Roy’s crisis management abilities came into the fore. As a result, the Fund has experienced its most successful year ever, achieving a 40% growth in beneficiaries served and a 20% growth in income. Other successes include a major overhaul of its volunteers structure and service delivery to improve professionalism, and employee development by expanding training budgets.

SHORTLIST: Dr Mohammed Ali (QED UK), Jane Carter (International Service), Trudie Lobban (The Syncope Trust and Reflex Anoxic Seizure Charity - STARS)

In the face of increasing hostility to refugees and asylum seekers, Jasvir has successfully raised enough funding to not only maintain the charity but also to allow it to buy more equipment and move to a new premises. By using fundraising methods that draw upon all aspects of the media, she has enabled the Foundation to increase its income substantially each year she has been a manager.

SHORTLIST: Steve Bull (Promise Dreams),Chris Burghes (Fire Services National Benevolent Fund),Wendy Edge (Brain and Spinal Injury Charity)

A simple and fun campaign has proved to be so effective it is now the charity’s premier event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Over 46,000 national organisations were encouraged to take part in ‘wear it pink’, a day when particpants donated money to wear an item of pink clothing. An information pack and no pre-registration made it easy to get involved and as a result £600,000 was raised, which far exceeded the initial target of £140,000.

A sufferer from chronic arthritis, Mel gives his time seven days a week to help young people who are under supported within the Criminal Justice System, out of mainstream education or otherwise socially excluded.
He has raised more than £100,000 for one project alone, visited prison cells at 3am and stood as a personal guarantor for those he supports. As a volunteer he does what would normally be considered a full time job.

Whether with the Scouts, St Johns Ambulance or Stockport Youth Strategy team, Christopher has given his time and energy with selfless enthusiasm. He has organised a wide variety of fundraising events,
volunteered in charity shops and established a drama workshop for pupils in his school. He has also worked to raise awareness and funds for vital local life saving equipment, given press interviews, presented a community radio show and written to his MP.

SHORTLIST: Kayleigh Ball (The Blue Cross, )Blair Ross (Guide Dogs for the Blind), Camilla Womack (various charities)

Since its launch late last year, www.adoptionuk.org’s online community has helped hundreds of prospective and adoptive parents, who otherwise might have no one to speak to. Using a lateral approach to help users, the community offers much more than just the user-friendly message boards but also offers guides to the adoption process and sections where users can get advice on adoption issues from experts and peers.

In recruiting its volunteers, School Governors’ One-Stop Shop (SGOSS) operates a totally open recruitment policy – and this is also reflected within its staff, which include a diverse mix of ages, race and experience. To draw on this, employees are encouraged to work together across the organisation, and they do so constantly, whether it in the development of the company vision, reviewing company accounts or examining the appraisal system.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Project 2041
SHORTLIST: The Health Foundation, Wood Green Animal Shelters

Rangers Football Club has pioneered an innovative strategy that makes full use of their status to create forward-thinking attitudes and inspire a community spirit. Its commitment has been demonstrated through a broad spectrum of initiatives including the Rangers Study Support Centre, the Football in the Community scheme and the Pride Over Prejudice campaign, the successes of which have led to similar initiatives being launched around the country.

Wavemakers' mission statement is to celebrate and build on achievements of children and young people from diverse backgrounds. As a result of a previous Charity Commission investigation – when the charity was under a different name and management – the charity has emerged with a completely new board of trustees which includes young people. The board's new vision to actively involve children and young people in Wavemakers' development has played a fundamental role in the revival of the charity.