Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2026

A true highlight in our calendar year, 2026 marks our 12th anniversary supporting the awards. This year’s celebration took place at B:Music Hall in Birmingham on the 17th of April 2026.

We were thrilled to welcome back Sally Lindsay, returning to host for a 3rd year! The renowned actress is also an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.

We take great pride in celebrating and shining the spotlight on individuals and organisations who display such incredible dedication, resilience, and commitment to creating change in their communities. We’re passionate about putting people first and remain committed to championing all those who care, who’s determination drives change and makes a real difference to those they support, their communities, and the not-for-profit sector.

Here are just a few of our amazing winners' stories:

Campaigning for Change Winner – Waythrough - New Vision Bradford

Waythrough - New Vision Bradford are campaigning for change, challenging misconceptions and dismantling stigmas surrounding addiction. Their campaign, ‘Naloxone: You Can Save a Life’, empowers everyone to be able to act and prevent an opioid overdose. The organisation has trained over 1,500 people from all walks of life, who can now confidently administer naloxone in emergency situations and save a life.

Abi Fox, Communications Officer for Waythrough - New Vision Bradford spoke to us at the ceremony, “The people we support, they're more than a statistic, they are someone's son, daughter, they may be parents themselves. There's someone in the world who they matter very deeply to”.

On winning this award, Abi added, “It means the world to us, and we are just really committed now to continue talking about naloxone, raising awareness, using our platform to be able to give the people that we support a voice, and also get the word out that You Can Save A Life.”

Community Engagement Winner – Ngage Community Allotment

An allotment with a difference, the Ngage Community Allotment provides a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for people with learning disabilities and complex needs in the Newcastle and North Tyneside area – but it’s also so much more. CEO and Founder, Rachel Spencer, described the impact on the community that the allotment has created, “Lots of of the people we support are quite isolated, and they need a safe space to come together in”.

What started as one man’s wish for an allotment of his own has flourished and grown into a beautiful community, tackling social isolation, and truly transforming the lives of its members. Mark Butcher, Content Creator and Engagement Coordinator, noted: “It’s been a real transformation from what it started to what it looks like now. But it’s taken a lot of hard work to get it to that place.”

“Everybody mucks in together, it's a really special place.” - Rachel Spencer, CEO and Founder.

Compassion Winner – Footprints 2 Africa

Bringing dignity, hope and compassion to ostomates, Footprints 2 Africa are a 100% volunteer-led operation, distributing stoma supplies, providing support, and restoring dignity in care. Saving medical supplies that would have otherwise ended up in landfill, Footprints 2 Africa never turn down an opportunity to help, describing every stoma bag sent as a lifeline and a promise that someone, somewhere, cares.

Founder and Mission Lead, Sam Yiollaris, said of the people powering Footprints 2 Africa, “it takes really special people to put that amount of effort and time into volunteering, and we've got such a great team. We all work full-time jobs, we're mums, we've got kids.”

For Footprints 2 Africa, dignity in care is keeping people at the heart of everything they do. Collette Fisher, Trustee, told us: “We don't just give you supplies and leave you. That's the nice thing about it. We've made friends, we go back, we check, we find out how you're doing. We'll walk the journey with you.”

We’re committed to ongoing partnerships within the not-for-profit sector

We recently reunited with the Deaf & Sensory Network (DSN), the winners of the Community Engagement Award at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2025. They’re committed to improving the lives of people with sensory loss across Cheshire and North Wales, and we remain committed to supporting them in doing so.

That’s why we were so honoured to spend a day with DSN at Lavender Lodge, one of their specialist facilities for deafblind residents. Members of our marketing team, alongside representatives from Care Management Matters, the organisers of the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, came together to help restore the home’s much-loved sensory garden. Together with the DSN team, we brought the garden back to life, restoring it to its former glory as a space for engaging the senses, encouraging independence, and providing moments of calm and joy.