Ten small and medium-sized charities have been named as the winners of the 2026 GSK IMPACT Awards, recognizing their exceptional efforts in improving health and wellbeing in communities across the UK. The awards are presented by global biopharma company GSK in partnership with The King’s Fund. This year’s awards come at a time when small charities are facing a challenging financial environment, yet the judges were impressed by the resilience and determination of the winners to continue meeting the needs of their communities.
The ten winning charities were selected through a rigorous process from a record number of entries. The GSK IMPACT Awards, now in their 29th year, have honored over 570 charities since their inception in 1997. These awards are designed to recognize the vital work of charities focused on improving public health and wellbeing. The winners will receive £40,000 in unrestricted funding, along with expert support and leadership development through The King’s Fund.
The winners include Age UK Norwich, which supports older people to maintain their health through coaching and advocacy; Can-Survive, offering support for culturally diverse cancer survivors in Manchester; and Colostomy UK, which assists people living with a stoma. Other winners are Create Strength Group, which helps people recovering from substance misuse, and Empowerment Charity Lancashire, which serves disadvantaged communities in Blackpool. Other recognized charities include Encompass Southwest, The Green House, Happy Baby Community, Rainbow Project, and Rape & Sexual Abuse Service Highland, all of which address a range of critical health, wellbeing, and social issues.
A core objective of the GSK IMPACT Awards is to support the development of leaders in the charity sector. All winners will participate in a leadership programme run by The King’s Fund and will join the GSK IMPACT Awards Network, a UK-wide network of previous award winners. The ceremony to honor the winners will take place on May 13, 2026, at The King’s Fund, where the overall winner will receive an additional £10,000.
Stephanie Dean, Director of Charitable Investment Programmes at GSK, praised the winners for their innovation, strong partnerships, and leadership in delivering essential services to their communities. Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, highlighted the resilience and creativity of the charities, which continue to thrive despite increasing pressures on health and care services.
