Restore is one of nine nationwide winners of the national GSK Impact Awards, which celebrates the outstanding work of community-based healthcare charities.
In addition to this fantastic recognition, we will receive £30,000 of unrestricted funding, and access to training and development worth £6,000.
‘The relationship between mental health problems and unemployment is particularly worrying and Restore is having great success in breaking this cycle by helping its clients to get or keep a job.’ said Katie Pinnock, Director of Charitable Partnerships at GSK UK & Ireland.
‘They are inclusive and collaborative and their achievements are impressive, demonstrating best practice in a number of areas, which have had a huge impact on the lives of the people it helps. This award is well deserved.’
The awards have already provided some brilliant opportunities. In the run up to the award, members and volunteers of Restore were interviewed by media outlets BBC Radio Oxford, The Oxford Times and Oxfordshire Guardian, and a short film was made to show at the awards ceremony. This experience has been incredibly valuable in building members confidence, self-belief and media skills. They have been inspirational in publicly challenging pre-conceptions of mental health problems, and demonstrating that it is a common experience that we should not be afraid to talk openly about.
Restore chief executive Martin Realey said: “The £30,000 is a very welcome start to the fundraising year at a time when we have to self-generate a greater amount than ever. We hope this award, coupled with the recognition for our recovery and coaching provision, is a strong blow in the fight to challenge stigma.”
Restore will receive its prize at a ceremony held at the Science Museum in London on Thursday 14th May, along with the nine other winners. An overall winner, who will receive a further £10,000, will be revealed on the night – wish us luck!