A vaccination programme to eliminate rabies in Kabul, the enrolment of thousands of schoolchildren in music ensembles in Birmingham, and a campaign to help people feel more comfortable talking about death and dying with their loved ones, are among 30 inspiring projects shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2025.
The Charity Awards, which announces its shortlist today (16 May), is celebrating 25 years as the charity world’s longest-running, biggest and best-known awards ceremony. This year’s charities have been judged by an independent panel of charity leaders as having demonstrated outstanding best practice in leadership and management, from which other organisations can learn.
The 10 category winners, plus the recipients of the Overall Award for Excellence and the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at a black-tie dinner on 3 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The evening will be hosted by BBC news presenter Asad Ahmad, who will be joined on the night by a host of celebrities, representatives of the shortlisted charities, as well as leaders from Britain’s best-known and best-loved charities.
Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media, which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated all the shortlisted charities on making the highly coveted shortlist.
He said: “For a quarter of a century now, the Charity Awards has been showcasing and celebrating the terrific work of UK charities large and small.
“At a time when the sector is struggling with higher costs, shrinking donations and ever-increasing demand for its work, it is reassuring and inspiring to see the extent and quality of charitable activity that is still going on across the country.
“We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; we know that times are tough and you should all be very proud of getting this far.”
Peter Hugh Smith, chief executive at CCLA, overall partner of the Charity Awards, said: “Every year the Charity Awards serve as a moment for the sector to reflect and acknowledge the transformative power of compassion, determination and resilience.
“The awards amplify the voices of those making a difference, inspiring others to join in creating positive change.
“We’re thrilled to return in 2025, celebrating the outstanding endeavours of another 30 charities. We wish all the shortlisted charities the very best of luck.”
Shortlisted charities
Animals & the environment
- The Mayhew Home
- StreetVet
- Trees for Cities
Arts, culture & heritage
- Kilmartin Museum
- Scene & Heard
- Services For Education
Campaigning & advocacy
- Ashden Climate Solutions
- The Donkey Sanctuary
- National AIDS Trust
Children & youth
- Delight Charity
- MYTIME Young Carers
- Spark Inside
Disability
- The Brain Charity
- icandance
- National Autistic Society
Education & training
- Get Further
- Holocaust Education Trust
- St John’s Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes
Grantmaking & funding
- Cumbria Community Foundation
- Project Giving Back
- Steve Morgan Foundation
Healthcare & medical research
- 4Louis
- Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital
- Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA)
International aid & development
- Alfanar Venture Philanthropy
- Oxfam
- Windle Trust International
Social care, advice & support
- Advance Advocacy and Non Violence Community Education
- Street Talk
- Turning Tides Homelessness
Read more about the shortlisted charities here.
Register to watch along with the Awards live stream.
