by Sara, Marketing Officer
On 20th November we were invited to the Benefact 2025 Charity Heroes Awards as one of three charities selected as finalists for the Triumph Through Adversity Award. The venue was impressive – the iconic Tower of London – and we joined 21 other charities who had been whittled down from some 2,500 entries to take our seat at the event.
The Benefact Group is creating a new fundraising model. They are doing business for good, not for profit. From across the group, each business gives its profits away to local causes and community groups. Since 2014, Benefact Group has donated over £250 million to charitable causes, making it the UK’s third-biggest corporate giver in the past decade.
Hosted by Dr Andy Cope of The Art of Brilliance, the event featured powerful speeches from solo adventurer and former professional cyclist Annasley Park, alongside Benefact Group CEO, Mark Hews. Each table at the event was joined by representatives from across the Group, who proudly presented prizes to the winners.
We met with inspirational leaders, fundraisers, trustees, and community champions whose work is transforming lives across the UK and Ireland. We were lucky enough to have Mark Hews on our table and were able to tell him more about the work that SLDAS has been doing for the past 27 years.
We did not win our category but we still feel like winners for having achieved so much and putting our small but vital charity on the map with a network of ‘givers’ and influencers. We were also awarded £1,000 as a worthy runner up.
The overall Triumph Through Adversity Winner was Vida Sheffield – honoured for resilience in overcoming challenges while continuing to deliver vital support to domestic abuse survivors. So a sister charity replicating the same work for other survivors of domestic abuse.
It was an incredibly moving event and we are very thankful to have been part of it and look forward to working with the Benefact Group again in the New Year!