Rainbow Gardens shortlisted for UK Charity Governance Awards 2021

Hull-based charity Northern Hull Community Rainbow Gardens has been shortlisted for the UK-wide Charity Governance Awards 2021, it has been announced. It is in the running for the Improving Impact in Small Charities award which comes with a £5,000 unrestricted grant. Rainbow Gardens is one of 13 charities from across the UK that has already secured £1,000 in unre​stricted grant funding for making it onto the shortlist.

Rainbow Gardens joins other nominated charities engaged in a diverse range of activities including support for mental health and wellbeing and the reduction of social isolation. The winners will be announced on 27 May 2021 via a special online presentation hosted by The Clothworkers’ Company in London.

Ken Upshall, chair of Northern Hull Community Rainbow Gardens, said, “I would wish to congratulate all the trustees, staff and volunteers on being shortlisted for this Award. I am proud of the work, of all those at the Rainbow Garden, who have kept up our links with the local community, by providing positive messages and support throughout the last year, when it’s been difficult to meet in person. We all miss the friendly smile, welcome and chat as we share our love of getting outside and keeping active in the garden, for our own health and wellbeing. We look forward to a brighter future where we can extend our welcome to all in our community”.

Michael Jarvis, who chairs the Awards steering panel on behalf of The Clothworkers’ Company, said, “Congratulations to all our shortlisted candidates – it has been especially satisfying to hear that such determination, compassion and ingenuity have arisen through the difficulties of the past year. And I’m delighted to see some previous runners-up and winners coming through again so strongly. Achieving brilliance at board level once is commendable, but to remain brilliant and continue to innovate and improve, particularly during a global pandemic, is remarkable.

“This year we have a category specifically dedicated to responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, all of the shortlisted charities share tales of how they successfully navigated this difficult crisis or other challenges they have faced. All on the shortlist should be proud that they continued to meet their charitable objectives and serve their beneficiaries at a time when they were needed most. I urge all charities to read these stories of great governance on our website – everyone can learn and be inspired by these boards, helping us all come back stronger as we deal with the pandemic and its aftermath for years to come.”

This year’s ‘new look’ Awards feature refreshed categories and a new award recognising exemplary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. A place on the shortlist has also secured each of the charities a paid one-year membership of the Association of Chairs for their board, and a complimentary training place on a Cause4 Trustee Leadership Programme for new members of their boards.

For the Charity Governance Awards, The Clothworkers’ Company – a City of London livery company that supports trusteeship initiatives – is partnered with not-for-profit consultancy NPC (New Philanthropy Capital), third sector recruitment specialists Prospectus, and the trustee/volunteer-matching charity Reach Volunteering.

You can follow the awards on Twitter via @CharityGovAward or by using the hashtag #CharityGov21. Winners will be announced during the virtual ceremony in May and on the website following the event. For information on the shortlist, award categories and more visitwww.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk.