Issued: Friday 18 May 2012, London UK

For the first time in its 15 year history the judges of the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) IMPACT Awards could not choose one overall winner for the awards so instead awarded two prizes. The accolade was received by both the Cornish Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (WRSAC) and Target Ovarian Cancer at a ceremony at London’s Science Museum last night, where they beat a shortlist of eight charities. Each winner received £35,000 in funding.

GSK’s prestigious awards, run in partnership with The King’s Fund, were decided by a judging panel of health care leaders including Professor Steve Field, former Chair of the Royal College of General Practioners; Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of Big Lottery; Gilly Green, Head of UK Grants at Comic Relief; Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman of GSK; and Sir Chris Kelly, Chair of The King’s Fund.

The IMPACT Awards, GSK’s flagship UK corporate responsibility programme, highlights the crucial role charities play in dealing with some of the most difficult health issues, while promoting innovation and good practice across the sector.

WRSAC outshone the other competition by working creatively in one of the most challenging areas of health, providing care and support for women and girls who have experienced sexual or domestic abuse. Its services include a rape andsexual abuse helpline, specialist sexual violence counselling and an independent domestic violence advocacy service. It also provides a potentially life-changing programme, Pattern Changing , a 14-week course to help women understand and change their own patterns of behaviour.

Target Ovarian Cancer was established only three years ago by a businesswoman who lost both her mother and sister to ovarian cancer within a few weeks of each other. It aims to save lives among the 6,500 women who develop ovarian cancer annually. To improve the UK’s poor survival rates, Target Ovarian Cancer raises awareness of symptoms, offers a national support programme and treatment guides, campaigns for better management and survival rates for the disease, and funds clinical research into its prevention and treatment.

Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman of GlaxoSmithKline and one of the judges said:

‘For fifteen years, the IMPACT Awards have been rewarding innovative charities that transform people’s lives, and over £4 million has been awarded. This is the first time that it has been impossible to decide between two very different but equally innovative charities. They both show how charities can have an incredible impact both on a national and local level. We hope the funding we provide, along with the prestige of the awards, helps the charities go from strength to strength.’

Maggie Parks, Chief Executive of WRSAC, said:

’Being an overall winner recognises the incredible work undertaken the organisation and reflects our exceptionally high quality of service provision. Endemic levels of violence against women and girls is a major health issue and we applaud GSK and The King’s Fund for recognising this. We believe that this award will help us continue to make a significant difference in women’s lives in Cornwall and we would like to thank our staff, volunteers and trustees for all their hard work and creativity.’

Annwen Jones, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said:

‘We were already thrilled to be one of the eight winners, so we are over the moon to be announced as the overall winner by such a recognised panel of professionals. The award is testament to how hard everyone involved in Target Ovarian Cancer has worked over the past few years.

“The award recognises the work we do in improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer across the UK. We work with a number of hugely passionate and inspirational women, and it is thanks to them that we have been able to achieve such change.’

Please note that case studies and spokespeople are available for interview, along with photographs. For further information or interviews, please contact Saskia Kendall at The King’s Fund press office on 020 7307 2603 or by email on s.kendall@kingsfund.org.uk.

Supporting information

The NHS spends around £3.4 billion a year on services provided by charities.

The voluntary sector provides a significant proportion of NHS services – a quarter of third sector organisations are involved in the provision of adult health and social care services. Small, local charities are often best placed to understand the needs of the UK’s increasingly diverse population. They can often respond more flexibly and innovatively than large public sector providers.  The government has recognised this.  Charities can be beneficiaries of a more open approach to the delivery of public services and in forging strong links with new health and wellbeing boards. However, small charities face particular challenges at this time. 

Income streams are more uncertain and small charities do not have the diversity of funding that larger charities do.  These Awards will therefore help financially.  The five-day development programme with The King’s Fund will help equip these excellent charities with the skills to maintain and continue their success in the future.