Benefact Group announces Charity Heroes Awards winners

Seven charities from across the UK and Ireland were revealed as winners at an awards ceremony at the Tower of London. Each of the winning charities was awarded £5,000 to support their impactful work. Fourteen charities were also announced as runners up1 and each received £1,000 in recognition for their contribution.

The winners of Benefact Group’s Charity Heroes Awards 2024 were:

Volunteer of the year: Luanne Rimmer, Director of Handmade with Love & Making Memories – Supporting grieving parents with handmade burial cribs and clothing.

Digital fundraising initiative: Dogs 4 Rescue – Providing a safe, kennel-free space for unwanted rescue dogs.

Climate action project: OASES (Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists) - Engaging young people with the natural world.

Local community initiative: Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund – Offering direct access to mental health counselling for young people in Gravesham.

Small charity, big impact: Tiny Tickers – Improving detection, care and treatment for babies with serious heart conditions.

Charity leader of the year: Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism – Championing the rights of autistic children and young people.

Colleague’s choice: Derian House Children’s Hospice – Providing respite and end-of-life care to over 400 children across the North West.

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “Hosting our first Benefact Group Charity Heroes Awards at the iconic Tower of London was an incredible privilege. It was a humbling, energising and inspiring event where we recognised unsung heroes in the charity sector, and heard how they are changing the world in which we live. There are many incredible charities doing life-changing work in communities up and down the UK, but these seven stood out for their passion, commitment and impact. We hope these awards will support them to continue their brilliant work.

“Owned by a charity ourselves, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do. All our available profits go to good causes and the more our family of award-winning specialist financial services companies grows, the more the Benefact Group can give.”

Since 2014, Benefact Group has donated over £230 million to charitable causes and is recognised as the UK’s third-biggest corporate giver. It aims to reach £250 million in donations by the end of 2025. For more information about the Charity Heroes Awards visit: benefactgroup.com/awards Charity Heroes Awards is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.