In its 125th year, Children North East has won a GSK IMPACT Award, a national award run in partnership with The King’s Fund that recognises excellence in charities improving health and wellbeing in their communities.The charity beat more than 400 organisations to win the accolade and £30,000 in unrestricted funding and received its prize at a ceremony held at the Science Museum in London on Thursday 12 May, along with nine other winners.
Children North East provides numerous services covering health, social care and education to reduce the impact of poverty and neglect on children’s lives. During 2014-15 the charity worked with more than 11,500 children and young people and helped over 850 families.
As well as working directly with children, young people and families, the charity has also developed an audit tool to assist schools to remove barriers that can prevent children in poverty from learning. In 2015 this tool was used to ‘poverty-proof’ 19 schools in the region.
Developing leaders in the charity sector is an important aim of the awards and Children North East will have access to training and leadership development tailored to its needs. It will also join the increasingly prestigious GSK IMPACT Awards Network, a national network of 66 award-winning charities working together to develop their leaders, find new ways of working and collaborate and support others.
Jeremy Cripps, Chief Executive of Children North East, said: “Children North East’s aim is that all north-east children grow up healthy and happy and this award is a fantastic recoginition of the difference we make to them and their families’ lives. This is an extra special award for us – this year as we are celebrating our 125th year. The fact that we are the only north-east charity to win the award this year makes us feel very proud! Thank you to the judging panel, The King’s Fund and GSK.”
Katie Pinnock, Director, UK & Ireland Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said: “Children North East is a highly commendable organisation with a substantial range of services. Its holistic approach is impactful, not only working with children but all those people and institutions that affect their lives – parents, schools and public services. Its work ‘poverty-proofing the school day’ is impressive and has the potential to be rolled out across the United Kingdom. This award is well deserved.”
The winners were selected by a judging panel of health and charity experts including Gilly Green, Head of UK Grants at Comic Relief; Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of Big Lottery; Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of MS Society; Philip Hampton, Chair of GSK; and Sir Chris Kelly, Chair of The King’s Fund.