Windle Trust International shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2025

Windle Trust International (WTI) is delighted to announce that it has made the shortlist for this year’s Charity Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector. WTI has been shortlisted in the International Aid and Development category for its Accelerated Secondary Education Programme in South Sudan, which delivers the country’s secondary education curriculum to unqualified, adult primary school teachers in two years rather than four, thereby improving both the teachers’ capacities, as well as the education of their students.

The Charity Awards, which announces its shortlist today (16 May), is the sector’s most highly regarded excellence recognition scheme and is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in leadership and management, from which other organisations can learn. 

WTI’s Accelerated Secondary Education Programme (ASEP) in South Sudan is focused on addressing the nation’s shortage of trained and supported teachers. One of the newest countries in the world, South Sudan achieved independence in 2011, but on-going conflict has left its education system in tatters. School buildings have been destroyed, damaged or taken over by armed groups, while teachers have fled and pupils have been press-ganged into fighting.

WTI’s Chief Executive Dr. David Masua, who pioneered the Accelerated Secondary Education Programme, the first of its kind in the country, said:

“WTI is honoured to have been recognised by the Charity Awards for our commitment to improving the quality of education in South Sudan.

“Nearly half of South Sudan’s primary school teachers have no qualifications, and as a result remain poorly equipped or trained for their work. Additionally, there are very few women who are trained as teachers, so accelerated secondary education not only equips teachers with the skills they need to improve learning outcomes but also addresses the gender imbalance in the classroom. It further gives opportunity for teachers to drop-back into education as accelerated secondary education opens further education opportunities.

“This is a win-win for South Sudan, because better qualified teachers lead to better-quality teaching and learning. Good quality education is paramount not just to the development of South Sudan’s economy, but to the nurturing of a sense of nationhood, and brings hope to those who lost it due to war, poverty and cultural barriers.”

The Charity Awards’ 10 category winners, plus the recipients of the Overall Award for Excellence and the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Thursday 3 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

The evening will be hosted by BBC news presenter Asad Ahmad, who will be joined on the night by a host of celebrities, representatives of the shortlisted charities, as well as leaders from Britain’s best known and best loved charities.

ASEP is a win-win for South Sudan, because better qualified teachers lead to better-quality teaching and learning. Good quality education is paramount not just to the development of South Sudan’s economy, but to the nurturing of a sense of nationhood, and bring hope to those who lost it either due to war, poverty and cultural barriers. - Dr David Masua, WTI CEO

The Shortlist 2025

Animals & the Environment

• The Mayhew Home

• StreetVet

• Trees for Cities

Arts, Culture & Heritage

• Kilmartin Museum

• Scene & Heard

• Services For Education

Campaigning & Advocacy

• Ashden Climate Solutions

• The Donkey Sanctuary

• National AIDS Trust

Children & Youth       

• Delight Charity

• MYTIME Young Carers

• Spark Inside

Disability

• The Brain Charity

• icandance

• National Autistic Society

Education & Training

• Get Further

• Holocaust Education Trust

• St John’s Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes

Grantmaking & Funding

• Cumbria Community Foundation

• Project Giving Back

• Steve Morgan Foundation

Healthcare & Medical Research

• 4Louis

• Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital

• Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA)

International Aid & Development

• Alfanar Venture Philanthropy

• Oxfam

• Windle Trust International

Social Care, Advice & Support

• Advance Advocacy and Non Violence Community Education

• Street Talk

• Turning Tides Homelessness

Matthew Nolan, Chief Executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated WTI on making the highly coveted shortlist. He said:

“For a quarter of a century now, the Charity Awards has been showcasing and celebrating the terrific work of UK charities large and small.

“At a time when the sector is struggling with higher costs, shrinking donations and ever-increasing demand for its work, it is reassuring and inspiring to see the extent and quality of charitable activity that is still going on across the country.

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; we know that times are tough and you should all be very proud of getting this far. We wish WTI the best of luck on the night.”

You can learn more about ASEP through our independently conducted 2024 report: