YWCA Yorkshire Celebrated at National Awards Ceremony
This month, YWCA Yorkshire joined charities from across the UK for the Charity Today Awards Ceremony. The annual awards shine a light on the organisations and people driving positive change nationally and internationally.
The YWCA Yorkshire team were thrilled to receive highly commended in two categories and to celebrate the achievements of all the winners, including Martin House Children’s Hospice who won Charity of the Year for the incredible work they do supporting young people and families facing life-limiting conditions in Wetherby.
YWCA Yorkshire were highly commended for the ‘Special Recognition Award’ recognising the lifetime achievements of former CEO Tracy Gollins, and the ‘Charity of the Year Award’. Upon news of the shortlisting, Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, wrote a letter of support to YWCA Yorkshire’s Chief Executive Diane Offers. As a Labour Party backbencher, Ms Champion campaigns on child protection and ending violence against women and girls. The letter congratulated YWCA Yorkshire for being shortlisted for the national awards and thanked the team for their service supporting families in Rotherham through YWCA Yorkshire’s Fleming Gardens.
The dual nomination and commendations are testament to the charity's exceptional work supporting vulnerable families, homeless young women and their children, and people escaping domestic abuse and relationship breakdowns in South Yorkshire.
YWCA Yorkshire’s CEO, Diane Offers, said: “It’s been a privilege to join such incredible charities this week and speak to the teams driving change in communities across the UK. We’re proud to have been recognised for the work we do in South Yorkshire and to give a platform to the women, children and families we support to ensure that their voices are heard. We were delighted when Sarah Champion MP reached out to us following our shortlisting and we look forward to welcoming Sarah to our Fleming Gardens service in Rotherham very soon.”
YWCA Yorkshire supports more than 250 families and 800 individuals each year. The charity employs 62 people and works with 15 volunteers. Contracted by local authorities and working closely with housing, health and other third-sector partners, the charity runs accommodation, volunteering, and community outreach projects in South Yorkshire.
YWCA Yorkshire advocate for women and families, locally, nationally and internationally, empowering people to speak up and speak out about the specific challenges they face around homelessness, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and poverty. The expert team work closely with community groups, faith organisations, charities, education and private businesses to deliver highly specialised and targeted services.
To learn more about YWCA Yorkshire, visit: www.ywcayorkshire.org.uk