ScoutsCymru takes top prize as Welsh Charity Awards toast everyday heroes
ScoutsCymru has taken home the prestigious Organisation of the Year award at this year’s Welsh Charity Awards for its groundbreaking approach to youth leadership and governance. Taking place at the Principality Stadium on Thursday 16 October, charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers gathered to honour the finalists and winners.
Hosted by BBC Wales Today presenter Jennifer Jones and organised by WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action), it is the only dedicated awards ceremony that celebrates the exceptional contribution of the voluntary sector across Wales, shining a spotlight on everyday heroes who make a real difference in communities throughout the country.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt said: “Our history and culture is one of coming together, supporting those most in need. It’s an honour to attend the Welsh Charity Awards 2025, to celebrate the extraordinary dedication and impact of charities, volunteers, and community groups across Wales. These awards highlight the power of compassion, innovation, and resilience in transforming lives.
“Supporting volunteers means strengthening our communities. Since April 2022, the Welsh Government has invested £4.6 million in volunteering programmes, supporting more than 419,000 hours of volunteering and training over 6,700 people across Wales.”
Leadership model
ScoutsCymru won Organisation of the Year for its modern leadership model where half of all elected trustee positions are reserved for 18- to 24-year-olds, working as equals to senior leaders. The organisation supports over 14,000 young people with the help of 4,600+ volunteers (over half of whom are women). It has also successfully campaigned for changes to the Visitor Levy Bill proposals, which has led to them protecting affordable experiences for under-18s across Wales.
Accepting the award, Kirsty Palmer, Chair of ScoutsCymru, said: “Whoo! Choosing ScoutsCymru for this award is astonishing, mind blowing, incredible. This is the 100th year of our independent scouting charity in Wales, so we are already celebrating! Scouting remains one of the cheapest and most accessible youth activities in the UK.
“This award really belongs to our 14,500 volunteers who look after those young people, who make those activities inclusive and fun – young people are learning things and they don’t even realise they’re learning because they’re having too good a time.”
The charity also led the UK’s most extensive youth-led research project in Scouting, involving over 500 young people aged 10 to 18 years. With over 2,000 members earning Chief Scout’s Awards last year – the highest number ever recorded in Wales – the organisation has demonstrated that meaningful youth participation in governance can drive real impact.
Power
Kirsty Palmer continued: “For some young people, it’s their first trip outside Wales when they go overseas. So that is really, really powerful. It brings them a perspective and a view of the world, which we know makes them better citizens for the future, and, like lots of other winners have mentioned this evening, in a world that currently feels a little bit divided. I feel so proud that ScoutsCymru offers a place for every single young person in Wales to find their home.”
Speaking at the ceremony, WCVA’s Chief Executive Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said: “The Welsh Charity Awards isn’t just a celebration, it’s an enormous thank you to the people and organisations who do great things in our communities. These are the people holding our nation together, with kindness, volunteering, inclusion and unwavering helpfulness.
“Times are tough at the moment, especially for charities and community groups. Our winners – and finalists – are just a few of the thousands of people bringing hope among the chaos. They rise to challenges, make things work even when it feels impossible and they do it with no thought of reward. Let’s shine a light on what this means and give a proper da iawn!”
FINALISTS AND WINNERS
Volunteer of the year (aged 26 years or over)
- Dr Justin Griffiths
- Mojisola Olateju – WINNER
- Fiona Stevens
Sponsored by Hedyn
| Winner: Mojisola Olateju is a dedicated Swansea-based volunteer for several organisations. She was nominated by the African Community Centre specifically for her work in supporting women from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and has won for her role in transformative community initiatives, such as women-only Zumba classes, food bank support and weekly childcare. |
Young volunteer of the year (aged 25 years or under)
- David Uche Iyamu
- Francesco Lanzi – WINNER
- Mia Harris-Jones
Sponsored by The National Lottery Community Fund
| Winner – Francesco Lanzi volunteers for many organisations including Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service, St John Ambulance, and Cymru Sport. Most notably, he is a lead volunteer with the Undeb Aberystwyth A-Team helping new students settle into university life; he also is an academic representative and student democracy chair, where he amplifies the voices of underrepresented students. |
Fundraiser of the year
- Faith in Families
- The Parish Trust – WINNER
- Stephens and George Centenary Charitable Trust
Sponsored by Utility Aid
| Winner – The Parish Trust has won for its ability to transform potential crisis into remarkable fundraising success, after raising over £300,000 to renovate a new donated home, The Bryn Hall. This involved securing major grants from The National Lottery and others; partnerships with private companies; and local community fundraising and donated services. |
Champion of diversity
- KIRAN Cymru – WINNER
- Redberth Croft CIC
- Thriving Communities and Aneurin Bevan Health Board
Sponsored by Bute Energy
| Winner – KIRAN Cymru (twice nominated this year) is a small but influential Welsh grassroots community organisation fighting racism through a range of projects, including ‘Walk in My Shoes’ and ‘South Asia Cymru Heritage’, many of which have been adopted by major Welsh institutions. Over 1,200 people have participated in the organisation’s anti-racist workshops, reducing tensions across Wales. |
Use of the Welsh language
- Stroke Association
- NSPCC Cymru – Local Campaigns Team
- GISDA – WINNER
Sponsored by Darwin Gray
| Winner – GISDA has gone above and beyond its core aim to promote the Welsh language, with the Welsh Language Commissioner commending its work earlier this year. The Welsh language is central to all of its services, and with over 50 staff working through the Welsh language, it has created stronger communities for vulnerable young people. |
Most influential small organisation
- BulliesOut – WINNER
- KIRAN Cymru
- Megan’s Starr
Sponsored by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales
| Winner – BulliesOut proves small teams can create a big change. With just two part-time staff, two trainers, and 15 volunteers, they’ve been ‘a beacon of hope’ to 19,000 children across 155 schools in 2024. Training 772 peer mentors and 516 playground pals, plus delivering anti-bullying sessions to 9,990 children, they’ve inspired a movement for kindness that can create lasting change. |
Health and wellbeing
- Area 43
- Brynawel House – WINNER
- Therapeutic Activities Group CIC
Sponsored by Geldards
| Winner – Brynawel House in Rhondda Cynon Taff is a specialist addiction recovery charity that supported 190 people this past year through residential treatment and aftercare. It is the only Welsh not-for-profit ARBD (Alcohol Related Brain Damage) service, and achieves 75% recovery rates versus 38-48% nationally. A unique service in Wales, it often supports individuals considered ‘too complex’ elsewhere. |
Organisation of the year
- Megan’s Starr
- ScoutsCymru – WINNER
- Domestic Abuse Safety Unit
- Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale
- Kidney Wales
Sponsored by The Open University in Wales
| Winner – ScoutsCymru has won for its modern leadership and innovative governance. Half of trustee positions are reserved for 18- to 24-year-olds working as equals to senior leaders, with the organisation supporting 14,000+ young people with the help of its 4,600+ volunteers. It led the UK’s most extensive youth-led research, involving over 500 young people, and also campaigned successfully for changes to the Visitor Levy Bill proposals, protecting affordable experiences for under-18s. |
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I am part of the Choir With No Name – Cardiff’s Homeless Choir (who meet in Butetown Community Center Tuesday 6:30- 8:00 all are welcome) We were invited to sing at this years Welsh Charity Awards gala. The performance was warmly received as we premiered in public two songs we jointly composed over the summer and one song which is a collaboration between all the CWNN from major cities all over Britain Thank you WCVA for the opportunity