The winners of the Welsh Charity Awards 2024 have been announced at a ceremony which coincided with the first day of Welsh Charities Week.
In a ceremony at National Museum Cardiff honouring a range of dedicated charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers, the pioneering charity FareShare Cymru scooped the top prize, ‘Organisation of the Year’, for its innovative work in turning an environmental problem into a social solution, and successfully redistributing surplus food to over 260 community groups, providing 2.1 million meals per week to 28,295 people, saving the voluntary sector an estimated £2.6 million in Wales.
Coming to the fore as a key theme this year was women’s equality and empowerment with St Giles Cymru winning the Health and Wellbeing award for its ‘Aspiring Champions’ project, which bowled over judges for its impactful work with vulnerable young mothers (14 to 24 years) in Rhyl. Also honoured for their extraordinary work in female healthcare were Young Volunteer of the year, Molly Fenton, for her ‘Love Your Period’ advocacy campaign and Most Influential Small Organisation, FTWW (Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales), for its work on the NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan.
Two further women picking up prizes for their contributions were Carmen Soraya Kelly (known as Soraya), named Volunteer of the Year, for her work empowering disadvantaged young people; and Fundraiser of the Year went to Diabetes UK Cymru for the campaign led by Beth Baldwin, who raised over £100,000 in memory of her son Peter, providing vital Type 1 Diabetes resources to every GP in Wales, saving lives and driving lasting change.
In a hotly contested category, Mudiad Meithrin was named Diversity Champion for its work advancing equality and anti-racism in Welsh-medium early childhood services, while The Outdoor Partnership was honoured for its use of the Welsh Language, particularly in having increased their Welsh-speaking outdoor activities instructors from 4% to 25. The latter award coincides with the first day of the ‘Defnyddia dy Gymraeg’ campaign.
Sarah Germain, Chief Executive of FareShare Cymru, said:
‘I’m incredibly proud of our team of staff and volunteers who go above and beyond to turn an environmental problem into a social solution.
‘The award goes much further than celebrating the achievements of FareShare Cymru, but also honours the achievements of our partners, supporters, volunteers and the community groups and charities that we support with food. It recognises the huge difference that each of them makes every day, and which FareShare Cymru’s food in some way helps them to achieve.’
WCVA Chief Executive Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said:
‘The Welsh Charity Awards hold a mirror up to our society, reflecting both the deep challenges we face in Wales and the extraordinary solutions driven by our finalists tonight.
‘As we close the first day of Welsh Charities Week, it is fitting that we take a moment to celebrate their remarkable achievements and mark the outstanding contribution made by the voluntary sector in Wales. We are often the only lifeline available to the most vulnerable in our society and a true inspiration for all of us who are passionate about building a fairer, stronger Wales for tomorrow.’
Organised by WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action), the Welsh Charity Awards is the only dedicated awards ceremony to celebrate the entire voluntary sector in Wales, recognising and celebrating the fantastic contribution charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers make to Wales by highlighting and championing the positive difference we can make to each other’s lives.
FULL LIST OF FINALISTS & WINNERS
Volunteer of the year (aged 26 or over) – Sponsored by The Open University in Wales
- Hazel Lim
- Matthew Steele
- Carmen Soraya Kelly ** Winner
Young volunteer of the year (aged 25 or under) – Sponsored by Hugh James
- Molly Fenton ** Winner
- Reece Moss Owen
- Tyler Agyapong
Fundraiser of the year – Co-Sponsored by Thomas Carroll & Zurich Municipal
- Milford Youth Matters
- Tenovus Cancer Care: Challenge Event Team
- Diabetes UK Cymru, campaign ‘Rewrite Peter’s Story’ ** Winner
- Mudiad Meithrin Grants Team
Champion of diversity – Co-sponsored by AP Cymru & South Wales Autism Assessments
- Be.Xcellence CIC
- Welsh Refugee Council
- Mudiad Meithrin ** Winner
Use of the Welsh language – Sponsored by Mentrau Iaith
- SPAN Arts
- NSPCC Cymru Schools Service
- The Outdoor Partnership ** Winner
Most influential small organisation – Sponsored by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales
- Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales ** Winner
- Carmarthenshire People First
- Daring to Dream
Health and wellbeing – Sponsored by Leaderful Action
- St Giles Cymru – Aspiring Champions Project ** Winner
- Megan’s Starr Foundation
- Sporting Memories Wales
Organisation of the year – Sponsored by The Open University in Wales
- The Game Change Project CIC
- Tempo Time Credits
- FareShare Cymru ** Winner
- Area 43
- Kidney Wales
