Garfield Weston Foundation is inviting charities in the North of England, Wales and the Midlands to apply for funding packages worth more than £22,000.

The funder and its charity partner Pilotlight are offering the funding to up to 22 charities, who specialise in community, environmental, welfare or youth support.

Those applying for the Weston Charity Awards must have been delivering a service for over two years, have an annual income under £5m, and at least one paid full time member of staff in a leadership role.

The funding includes unrestricted grants of £6,500 and free access to leadership coaching from Pilotlight worth £16,000.

This leadership coaching is delivered by “four senior experts across private and public sector organisations”.

“We know that charities are under pressure to deliver their great work – they face increased costs, a high demand for their services and a competitive environment,” said Garfield Weston Foundation interim director Flora Craig.

She adds that this funding package “is a great opportunity for charities to take stock, work with experienced experts, and develop plans for a resilient future”.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, January 8, 2025.

“Research shows that the largest barriers small charities face is income generation and management skills gaps,” said Pilotlight chief executive Ed Mayo.

“There is a significant shortage of people with the right capabilities to adapt to a challenging and changing fundraising landscape.

“Thanks to our partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation, these Awards provide financial support while also helping small charities to overcome common stumbling blocks, from digital transformation and improved data analysis to operational sustainability and partner collaboration.”

The awards scheme has taken place since 2014, with more than 150 charities receiving support over that period.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm is among charities already supported through the funding scheme.

It’s chief executive Adam Ogilvie said: “We now have the key ingredients, alongside the confidence, to produce a brand-new strategy for the organisation.

Another is South Yorkshire family support charity Buzz.

“We undertook a strategic transformation of the charity [… partly] in response to a 200% increase in enquiries and referrals,” said Buzz chief executive Kath Mardles.

“We were paddling so hard beneath the surface, and we were in danger of being swept away. We knew we needed to pause and regroup.”

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