The winners of the Warburtons Community Awards, and a share of £20,000 to help good causes in Bristol, have been announced. Ten local groups and charities in the city have been selected to receive funding for vital future projects, as part of the Warburtons Foundation, run by the UK's largest bakery brand.
Teaming up with Bristol Live, Warburtons asked for nominations at the start of August and, once they had received them all, a shortlist was put together, before Bristol Live readers had the chance to vote for those charities or groups they felt would most benefit from the funding. Warburtons has been supporting local groups in and around Bristol ever since the local bakery opened in 2008.
This year, the family charity Home-Start Bristol is just one of the local groups that have received financial support from Warburtons. The grant from the baker helped provide seasonal packages of healthy ingredients, recipes and cooking equipment to support 60 families with young children experiencing food poverty in Bristol.
Now, the latest lucky groups and charities, who will all receive £2,000 each, are sure to enjoy a similar boost to their operations.
Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons, said: "It's heartwarming to hear how the funding from the Warburtons Foundation will help the ten winning groups as part of the Community Awards with Bristol Post.
"As a business with family at its core, we are proud to be supporting these incredible groups within Bristol's local communities and we look forward to seeing how our assistance will aid their upcoming projects."
The 10 winners of a slice of the grant are as follows:
Mamas Bristol CIC
"The Mamas Bristol Team are incredibly grateful to receive this award from Warburtons. We can continue our impactful work for the 28,000 members of our MamasCommunity and beyond!
"Every week we host Stay and Plays. Every month we run Beneficial Events to create opportunities for families in various circumstances.
"Every year we hope to make a real difference to many lives and create effective change. We invite every family to join us and start your own change."
Ben Saunders Foundation
“Everything we do is to keep Bens's memory alive. We have supported over 150 families with cancer-related illnesses and bereaved parents since April 2022 and this incredible donation will cover the insurance of all three of our holiday homes and also ensure that more families than ever will benefit from the charity.
"To be recognised like this is wonderful and we are delighted to have been selected.”
Molly Olly's Wishes
Rachel Ollerenshaw, Co-Founder of Molly Olly's, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this donation by the Warburtons Foundation for our support within the Bristol area. This money will enable us to do so much good – it will make a real difference to the children with life-threatening illnesses that we support.
"We exist to emotionally support these children and their families and to help make the dark days brighter for them. Big thanks to the Warburtons Foundation!”
Bristol Suicide Prevention UK
"We'd like to thank Warburtons, Bristol Live and the entire community for providing the opportunity to receive this grant in order for us to continue saving lives all over Bristol and the UK. Every penny will be put to good use through our National Suicide Prevention Helpline, where we answer crisis calls.
"Additionally towards vital equipment for our volunteer-led outreach team, who are out every weekend locating individuals at-risk as well as patrolling high-risk suicide locations in Bristol."
Children's Hospice South West - Charlton Farm
Amanda Gallagher, corporate fundraiser at Children’s Hospice South West, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected as one of the winners of the Warburtons Community Awards. The prize money will help us provide vital care and support to children, young people and their families at our Charlton Farm hospice near Bristol.”
Helping Homeless Believe
“With everything increasing the prize money of £2000 from Warburtons Community Awards is going to make a huge difference to HHB - Helping Homeless Believe. We will be using the money to purchase much-needed items for our outreach, those who are Homeless and or suffering in poverty. “
Ripples of Compassion
“Thank you to Warburtons and everyone that voted for us to receive this award. It will make a huge difference to the families we support at Ripples of Compassion. Particularly with the recent need we have seen for meals and relaxation flashcards for oncology and bereaved families. In their own words 'the recent meal delivery to the children's oncology ward has taken away the strain of trying to prepare a meal and the cost. Thank you so much.'
Avonmouth Community Centre
"A massive thank you from Avonmouth Community Centre Association. It is so encouraging when others recognise and support the work we are doing.
"We love Avonmouth and we want the best for our residents. Awards like this show others care too."
Brentry and Henbury Children's Centre
“We are delighted to receive this money to fund new learning resources for our outside space. At a time when costs are high and money is tight, this really will make a huge difference to the support we can provide to families in our local community and continue to provide young children with positive learning experiences.”
Gympanzees
Stephanie Wheen, CEO and Founder said: “We are so proud to nurture an ever-growing Gympanzees community across Bristol as we work to provide access to fun and fitness to all children with disabilities. Our commitment to supporting the 66,000 young people with disabilities living within an hour of Bristol makes receiving the Warburtons Community Award particularly special.
"It will have a fantastic impact on our work and most importantly our families – thank you!”
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