Welsh charities have the chance to win a grant of £6,500 at Weston Awards

WELSH charities have the opportunity to win a core grant of £6,500 and a year’s strategic planning support from business leaders.

That is the prize for 20 winners of this year’s Weston Charity Awards. Entries opened on Monday.

Charities with an annual income of less than £5m providing frontline services in the fields of welfare, community and youth can apply.

The Awards expanded to Wales in 2018 when five out of the 20 winners were Welsh charities.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, Recovery Cymru in Cardiff, youth charity GISDA in Gwynedd, Swansea Young Single Homeless Project and the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home in Pembrokeshire are now all benefiting from the programme of support.

Philippa Charles, director of the Garfield Weston Foundation which established the Weston Charity Awards said: “Small charity leaders are under enormous pressure to steer their organisations through uncertain times.

“We are delighted to support those showing enormous creativity and resilience through these Awards and to help them reach their goals.

“We particularly want to hear from small charities in Wales.”

Gillian Murray, Chief Executive of Pilotlight, a charity that matches the Weston Charity Awards winners with business mentors for a year of strategic business planning support, said: “Small charity leaders are versatile and know how to get things done under incredible pressure. In uncertain times, adaptability and flexibility are key.

“The strategic knowhow charity leaders gain through these awards will help them navigate successfully towards a sustainable future.”

■ Interested charities have until January 11, 2019 to apply. Find out more www.westoncharityawards.org