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Northamptonshire charity scoops award

A charity supporting people across Northamptonshire has won an award for their hard work.

Community Law Service, which is part funded by British Gas Energy Trust, scooped the Charity of the Year gong at the NNBN Business Awards in Northamptonshire at the end of 2024.

The charity won the award for their tireless efforts to help people keep their homes, access welfare benefits, manage and move out of debt, save energy, and live in a warm home.

Sarah Hayle, CEO of Community Law Service, said: “I’m so proud our organisation has won and equally proud to work in such a wonderful voluntary sector in our county. We are committed to doing all we can to help people take control of their lives and realise their rights – very often when life is at its most challenging.

“To win the award is quite unbelievable really. I was there with our longest serving team member, Melanie Jones, which was really nice. The runner-up was also a local advice charity, so it’s good to have recognition of the importance of advice.

“Together we are proudly making a real difference to our communities in Northamptonshire. Thank you to NNBN Awards for recognising the value of our sector.”

As well as the award, the charity was presented with a £1,000 cheque on the night from the NNBN Awards team – a sum that was topped up to £2,700 from the results of a silent auction. The funds will be used for staff wellbeing and training for its 38 dedicated workers.

NNBN Director Simon Cox said: “Congratulations to Community Law Service for scooping this award – a highly competitive category. The NNBN awards are a wonderful celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship and a great way for organisations to share their business experiences, forge relationships and celebrate their successes.”

The charity supports around 20,000 people across the region each year, and Sarah believes the task isn’t going to get easier in 2025, with an increased level of demand tor their services and an ever-evolving complex casework.

She added: “There’s been growing recognition that a wider cohort of our population are experiencing problems, and I think this award shows that. Our staff have really risen to the challenge, and this award is recognition of their hard work over the course of the last year.

“This year, we’re expecting more of the same – there’s no indication of things easing up. But we’re getting excellent support from our funders, for which we are very grateful.”

To find a money and energy advice service local to you, please click here.

To read about direct energy grants available from the Trust, please click here.