GOLD
KellyDeli Company & Action Against Hunger: Turning Food Waste into Hope: A Partnership of Fighting Malnutrition and Driving Change
The partnership between KellyDeli and Action Against Hunger exemplifies the power of purpose-driven business in tackling global challenges. What began as a mission inspired by our founder’s personal experience has evolved into a transformative initiative, raising over €1 million and improving the lives of thousands in communities most affected by malnutrition. Forgotten Ends is more than just a a pot of sushi off-cuts that would otherwise go to waste; it is a statement of innovation, sustainability, and a long term commitment to ending hunger. It demonstrates that small changes in how we approach food waste can lead to significant impact, preventing 677.5 tonnes of food waste over 5 years. Despite challenges along the way, our commitment to the partnership has remained unwavering, and our ongoing collaboration with Action Against Hunger continues to drive awareness, engagement, and life-changing support where it is needed most.
SILVER
The Nature People Network: Helping Village Council Communities Conserve their Forests and Rivers
The Nature People Network is helping rural Gram Sabhas in Chhattisgarh, India use their constitutional and forest rights to declare self-governed ecological sanctuaries. These include both river and forest areas, protected under village-made constitutions. The initiative empowers communities to use the Forest Rights Act particularly Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) to take legal and democratic control of their local ecosystems.
So far, five villages have declared sanctuaries (three river, two forest), protecting 9 km of river and hundreds of hectares of forest. Along with this NPN also organizes volunteer led river cleanups and free medical camps in these villages, among other things. No external enforcement is used and protection is entirely community-driven.
The model is low-cost, legally sound, and easily replicable. With training and toolkits underway, this movement shows how India’s villages can lead ecological governance and conservation.
BRONZE
Donegal Domestic Violence Services: 4Empowerment Donegal
The 4Empowerment initiative is a collaborative effort between Donegal Domestic Violence Services, the Donegal Sports Partnership, and the Donegal Local Development Company. The programme incorporates both sport and physical activities aimed at enhancing participants’ well-being and other skills aimed at expanding their educational and economic opportunities. The group nature of the programme aims to reduce isolation and create a support network within their local community leading to improved mental health, increased sobriety rates, and reduced involvement in unhealthy relationships. The initiative is innovative and user-focused in design to address key social challenges. Most notable outcomes are in areas such as increased sobriety, improved physical and mental well-being, increased social engagement, retention of participation rates, and increased involvement in education and employment programmes. In addition, 4Empowerment demonstrates a model of work about the strength of interagency cooperation working alongside the impact of peer support for more sustainable outcomes.
ONE-TO-WATCH
Rothesay Foundation: More Money for You
The Rothesay Foundation, the charitable foundation of pensions insurance specialist, Rothesay, has been pivotal in the development of Age UK’s vital benefits check service, working together to address the barriers facing older people understanding their benefits eligibility and making a claim.
In 2023, the Rothesay Foundation launched a pilot campaign with Age UK to help fund its free and confidential benefits check service for older people. The pilot helped more than 4,500 older people and identified an incredible £23 million of unclaimed benefits, delivering on our shared ambition to help improve the quality of life for older people in need in the UK.
Following the successful pilot, the Rothesay Foundation has provided an additional £2.47 million to significantly expand the programme over the next two years. This will fund benefit checks for over 11,000 more people and aims to uncover £55 million more in annual benefits.