The Winners of VAL Awards 2026 – Image by Nathan O’Brien

The VAL Awards 2026 took place last Friday 2 October 2026, at Leicester’s prestigious Winstanley House. The event, sponsored by Hastings Direct, was a resounding success, bringing together over 310 guests to celebrate the achievements of the local Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector along with community leaders and volunteers, to celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals who often work quietly behind the scenes.

The night was filled with heartfelt stories, inspiring moments, and a deep sense of pride for the community. Hosted by Kevin Allen-Khimani, VAL CEO and Rupal Rajani, the ceremony shone a light on those whose dedication and selflessness have strengthened our community, but often go unnoticed. Each winner represents the heart of the community, from grassroots organisations to individual changemakers working tirelessly to improve and change the lives of others.

We are extremely excited and proud to announce this year’s VAL Awards winners:

City Charity of the Year – Sponsored by Springfields Advisory LLP
B-Inspired

County Charity of the Year – Sponsored by Rowleys
Bright Sparks Arts

Social Enterprise of the Year – Sponsored by University of Leicester School of Business
Jamila’s Legacy CIC

Volunteer Led Organisation of the Year – Sponsored by BNI Foxes  
Live Cancer Free

Youth Organisation of the Year – Sponsored by Business2Business 
Park Lodge Project

Trustee of the Year – Sponsored by ER Recruitment 
Dr. Nicole Fayard, Freeva

Fundraiser of the Year – Sponsored by Champions – 
Dhiru Shah

Charity and Business Partnership – Sponsored by Scholars School System

Midland Langar Seva Society Leicester (MLSS) & Square Pizza Company

Kathryn Burgess Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by De Montfort University
Mani Singh, Hari Singh Nalwa Combat Academy (HSNCA)

Inspiring Leader of the Year – Sponsored by Gambit Insurance Solutions
Susan McEniff, Charity Link

Charity of the Year – Sponsored by Hastings Direct
Park Lodge Project

Kevan Liles Recognition Award –Sponsored by VAL
Anthony Donovan

Kevin Allen-Khimani, Chief Executive of VAL, said:

“This evening has been a wonderful celebration of the spirit of Leicester and Leicestershire and the incredible people and organisations that make up our VCSE sector. The dedication, passion and selflessness demonstrated by our finalists and winners is truly inspiring. So many of those recognised tonight work tirelessly, often behind the scenes and without recognition, to support others and make a lasting difference in our communities. It is an honour to shine a light on their achievements and celebrate the incredible contribution they make every day. We are extremely proud to have hosted the VAL Awards and brought the sector together for such a special evening. Tonight has been a powerful reminder of the strength of our communities and what can be achieved when we come together.”

Rich Jennings, representing Hastings Direct said:

“As a sponsor of the 2026 VAL Awards, we were proud to celebrate the individuals, charities and community groups making a positive difference across our communities. Hearing their stories and meeting the people behind that impact was truly inspiring. The awards evening highlighted the remarkable dedication, kindness and community spirit that help improve lives every day.”

Bringing a night like this to life takes a extraordinary community effort. We are immensely grateful to our headline sponsor, Hastings Direct, and all our supporters, whose invaluable backing ensured we could honour Leicestershire’s VCSE heroes in true style. We would also like to thank our additional category sponsors and event partners; Lumbers, Randal Foundation, Barclays Eagle Labs, Springfields Advisory, Rowleys, University of Leicester School of Business, De Montfort University, Scholars School System, BNI Foxes Leicester, ER Recruitment, Champions UK, Gambit Insurance Solutions, Business2Business, Feedo Needo, Meesh Consulting and Platinum Sounds.

Their sponsorship directly ensures that the hard work, impact, and commitment of Leicestershire’s voluntary sector continue to receive the visibility and credit they deserve.

The success of this year’s VAL Awards is a testament to the strength, talent and community within our industry. As we reflect on an incredible evening, we would once again like to congratulate all of our winners, finalists and everyone who joined us on Friday.

Thank you for making the 2026 VAL Awards a night to remember.

For more information about the VAL Awards, visit https://valonline.org.uk/valawards or email valawards@valonline.org.uk