Our innovative Safe as Houses scheme has attracted national recognition and praise in the form of a National Charity Award for Grantmaking and Funding. These national prestigious awards showcase organisations demonstrating excellence in ten areas of operation and outstanding achievement in each of ten categories.
Alongside nine other category winners, the Overall Winner and the recipient of the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, Winner, the Preston Road Women’s Centre, was presented with the award by Patti Boulaye at a star-studded black-tie ceremony at the Mermaid Theatre in London on Thursday 9 June, hosted by former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull.
Tania Mason, editorial director at Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Winner, the Preston Road Women’s Centre, on winning the highly-coveted award. She said:
“We had a record number of entries this year, and the standard was particularly high, so Winner, the Preston Road Women’s Centre, should be very proud to have won their category. Their project was very effective.
“For 17 years the Charity Awards have been identifying and celebrating the fantastic work that UK charities do, and the rigorous judging process ensures that only the very best-run charities win awards.”
John Low, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation, overall partner of the Charity Awards, said:
“This year’s Charity Awards celebrate the inspiring people working in neighbourhoods and communities across the UK and overseas to make the world a better place.
“Celebrating these successes – as these awards have now been doing for 17 years – is an important part of maintaining and building Britain’s proud culture of civil action and generosity.
“The organisations which won awards and those who were shortlisted demonstrate a great sense of teamwork, collaboration and management excellence.
“It is humbling to see the amazing work being done by people who are changing lives in so many ways. Their stories are an inspiration, and my congratulations go out to them all.”
Ann Clarkson, Coordinator of Winner, the Preston Road Women’s Centre, said:
“We are extremely proud and delighted to have won this award. Our Safe As Houses scheme gives women in crisis practical help to support them to rebuild their lives. This award is for them, for our housing team and for all our volunteers who make a difference every day to women and children in need. We will continue to build up our housing portfolio, and would be delighted to hear from any private landlords who would like to be part of the initiative.”
Lisa Hilder, Treasurer, Patti Boulaye, Entertainer and Ann Clarkson, Centre Co-ordinator
