The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust has been shortlisted from hundreds of entries in the International aid and development category alongside just two other charities for the prestigious Charity Award which is the sector’s most prestigious excellence recognition award.
Improving lives of equines and people
The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust has been shortlisted from hundreds of entries in the International aid and development category for the prestigious Charity Award.
It has been selected for its imaginative project to reduce rural poverty, improve equine management and welfare and provide employment in rural areas by organising the training of equine support technicians such as farriers, harness makers and paravets. It also teaches in schools and to farmers groups.
Leading the project Heather Armstrong said “We are immensely proud to have been short listed for this prestigious award. Apart from our team of 21 Gambian employees and one British employee all the administrative and training work for this charity is undertaken by volunteers.
It is our outstanding team of Gambian staff, the wonderful volunteers, British Veterinary profession and last but very much not least our generous supporters who must take credit for the charity’s achievements, using very limited resources to dramatically improve the welfare of the communities and their animals with whom we work. We would like to thank both the organisers and the judges of the awards for helping to make our tenth anniversary year so special.”
And the winner is…
The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust is hoping to pick up the coveted award at a glittering ceremony in London on 14 June. If it wins its category it will also be in the running to pick up the Overall Award for Excellence, which is selected from the 10 category winners.
The Charity Awards is the highest profile event in the charity calendar. All 32 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated outstanding best practice from which other organisations can learn.
Daniel Phelan, organiser of The Charity Awards comments:
“For 13 years The Charity Awards programme has celebrated the exceptional work that takes place within the voluntary sector and the dramatic effects that charities have on a wide spectrum of social needs.
The rigorous judging process means that only the very best walk away with prizes, bestowing on them one of the highest accolades in the sector. In being shortlisted The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust has already demonstrated that it is amongst the best managed charities in the UK.
I wish them and all shortlisted charities the best of luck on the night.”
John Low, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation, which sponsors The Charity Awards, comments:
“I would like to congratulate and commend all the shortlisted charities this year, as well as everyone who took the time to submit an application. Once again the calibre of entries was very impressive – at a time when the sector, indeed the country, is under such financial pressure, The Charity Awards gives us all the opportunity to step back, reflect and be inspired.”