YOH, a grassroots charity dedicated to engaging children and young people from underrepresented communities and supporting their transition to positive pathways, was honoured this week with a nomination for Fundraising Charity of the Year (Small) at the prestigious National Fundraising Awards 2025, organised by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising at the QEII Centre in Westminster.

This award recognises charities that have achieved remarkable fundraising success through teamwork between 1 January 2023 and 31 July 2024. YOH’s nomination follows its transformative work in bridging socio-economic divides caused by local regeneration, engaging 112 children from both affluent and underrepresented communities in collaborative initiatives designed to build cohesion and reduce conflict.

“In response to growing tension in our community, we focused on fostering real connection and cohesion,” said Rohit Badhwar, YOH Head of Fundraising. “Our initiatives — including cross-cultural debates, excursions, and role-play — helped children from different backgrounds understand each other, while also rallying broader community support. This not only increased donations significantly but also built long-term, sustainable partnerships with families and local businesses.”

YOH successfully increased donations from 0.4% to 14% — half of which was match-funded by local businesses — demonstrating both impact and sustainability.

Reflecting on the nomination, YOH’s CEO, Ergel Hassan, said:

“Yesterday, at the National Fundraising Awards 2025 organised by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising held at the QEII Centre in Westminster, YOH was nominated for ‘Fundraising Charity of the Year (Small)’ – and what an honour it was to sit alongside some of the most impactful charities from across the UK.
For a grassroots organisation like ours, being recognised on a national stage is a powerful reminder that local voices matter and that community-led work is being seen.

What made it even more special was that our team was there – the people who pour their hearts into this work every single day. Seeing their pride, hearing their laughter, and feeling that collective sense of achievement was truly humbling.

This nomination isn’t just for YOH – it’s for every child we’ve supported, every parent we’ve stood beside, and every volunteer, partner and funder who believes in what we do.

We may not have taken home the trophy, but we left with something even more lasting – the confidence that our work is creating ripples of change, and the energy to keep pushing forward.
Here’s to continuing the journey – with purpose, with passion, and with people at the heart of everything we do.”

The judges commended YOH’s “impressive stakeholder approach” and highlighted the charity’s commitment to future sustainability and collaboration, noting that “the collaborative approach can often achieve far more than ploughing ahead independently.”