“Paying it Forward is at the heart of what we as a charity do.
Reach is community led – parents of children with upper limb difference and adults with upper limb difference who have either grown up as part of the Reach community or find us as adults give their time to support families, children and young adults, many in appreciation of the support they received as children, so yes, we get and love this concept – thank you so much!!”
Sarah-Jane Lowson, Charity Lead.
A chain that follows the wisdom of communities
This year, the chain travelled further, reaching new regions, new sectors and new stories. And once again, a powerful pattern emerged. When funding entered a sector, it tended to stay there. Charities instinctively recognised peers doing vital work in their own space, a testament to the deep, often invisible networks that hold communities together.
The first five charities were chosen with purpose. Each had repeatedly engaged with our Movement for Good Awards over the years but had never been drawn as a winner. Selecting them to begin the chain was our way of recognising their commitment, their persistence and the vital work they do in their communities. From there, the decision‑making passed entirely into the hands of the charities themselves, allowing the chain to grow organically and reflect the relationships, trust and lived experience that shape the sector every day.
A chain shaped by lived experience
This year’s 25 charities spanned environmental action, inclusive cycling, cancer support, menopause awareness, limb difference communities, disability inclusion and animal welfare. Despite the diversity, their nominations revealed a shared truth, that charities know who needs help next. Their choices reflected experience, local knowledge and the kind of insight no centralised grant process could ever replicate.
Small charities, extraordinary impact
The average income of this year’s charities was just £143,000, a reminder that Pay It Forward consistently reaches the organisations that rarely appear on corporate giving dashboards. These are volunteer run groups, lived‑experience‑led initiatives, and tiny teams carrying enormous responsibility. For many, unrestricted funding is a lifeline. And removing the application process removes a barrier that too often shuts small charities out.
“Steel Bones exists to ensure that no amputee or their family faces limb loss alone. Every week we see the life-changing impact of connection, peer support and practical guidance from people who truly understand the journey. This grant will help us reach more amputees with vital support packs, mentoring and inclusive community activities that rebuild confidence, reduce isolation and remind people that life after limb loss can still be full of opportunity, purpose and joy.”
— Emma Joy-Staines, CEO & Co-Founder, Steel Bones
“Our focus is to create a strong network within the Amputee Community built on Peer Support via Lived Experience. Whether our members get to get together for a coffee morning, “Have A Go” at an adapted activity or take on White Water Rafting, the importance is that our members get together and support each other. Our Support Hubs both Regional & Online provide a much needed community for people to share experiences and learn from each other’s journeys.”
Amputation Foundation
“We aim to improve the situation of disabled young people, for example by making sure that they are able to try new activities, have more fun, reduced social isolation, increased confidence and self esteem, greater independence , increased opportunities and routes for progression and more awareness of their rights.
One of the things that our members really – really – love is going on trips, and this is how we’d like to use this grant; it’s something that we can’t always afford to do otherwise and provide so many of the positive outcomes that we always hope our members to achieve – we continue to hear stories and fond memories from these excursions for years after they have taken place.”
Jo Stephens, Mixtup Manager
“We are delighted to be the recipients of the Benefact Group’s – Pay it Forward fund! R:evolve Recycle was established in 2015 from our local communities concerns about the throw away culture we see today. We encourage people to reuse their clothing by creating a platform for them to share their clothes, shoes and accessories with their local community, through our swap shop, clothing bank and thrift stores. We also run workshops to help people learn skills in mending and upcycling textiles….
This fund could not have come at a better time for us as our refurbished office computers are nearing the end of their life, slow, outdated and unreliable. We are delighted that this fund will help us to buy more up to date computers to help us be more efficient in the day to day operations of our charity.”
– Wendy Chambers – Head of Growth and Sustainability
“The charity sector is facing the perfect storm – increasing demand for services combined with an incredibly difficult funding environment. Across the Benefact Group we’re committed to finding more ways to support the sector. Innovative funding approaches like Pay It Forward is one example, and we’re delighted with the impact our winning charities will have with the funding, how we’ve given them the opportunity to decide where funding goes, and how they are building community and connection.”
Chris Pitt, Group Impact Director at Benefact Group
“The work of Hand in Hand Children’s Cancer Charity is only possible because of the generosity of those who believe, as we do, that every child deserves the best chance and every family deserves support. This €2,000 grant will help us continue delivering meaningful, compassionate services to children living with cancer and their families. It is a reminder that when communities come together, real change is possible.”
Mark Dwyer, CEO
Looking ahead
With two powerful years behind it, Pay It Forward is becoming a defining example of what trust based, community led philanthropy can look like in the UK. It breaks down barriers. It reaches the charities that need it most. And it sparks a bigger conversation about how giving can evolve.
Most importantly, it proves something simple and profound – when you trust charities to make funding decisions, they lift each other up.
Sources:
*Corporate Giving Report 2025 | CAF
**New research finds corporate charity support delivers 37x return – Benefact Group
A heartfelt thank you to our charities
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all the charities involved with this pilot initiative. Each of them generously took time out of their day to provide quotes, information, videos, and photos offering invaluable insights that helped bring this initiative to life. Their enthusiasm and willingness to share made a huge difference, and their love for the communities they serve truly shone through. This project wouldn’t have been the success it was without them, and we are incredibly thankful for their support.
Pay it Forward 2026 – Follow the journey
Chain 1
Our first chain started with Menopause Together, a wonderful charity based in Northern Ireland which empowers women to make informed choices and feel supported on their menopause journey. Overall the chain travelled a distance of 72 miles and moved from the Community sector, to Health, to Animals and back to Community. Charity incomes ranged between £9,000 and £450,000.
Discover the full breakdown below.
Chain 2
Our second chain began with Look Good Feel Better Ireland, a fantastic charity based in Dublin that provides free skincare and makeup workshops to help people manage the visible side effects of cancer treatment and boost confidence. The chain covered a huge 315 miles in total whilst remaining in the Health sector. The charities involved had incomes ranging from £70,00 to £475,000.
Chain 3
We kicked off our third chain with Reach Charity Ltd, a wonderful charity based in Devon that supports children and young people with upper limb differences and their families. This chain travelled the furthest, moving all over England and finishing up in Scotland, covering 850 miles in total, whilst remaining in the same sphere of amputee support. The winning charities had incomes between £134,000 and £630,000.
Chain 4
Our fourth chain started with LEAP Project, a brilliant charity that enhances the lives of older people in South Lanarkshire through befriending, activities, learning opportunities and practical support services. This chain stayed relatively local, spanning 10 miles overall, but moved from Community themed support to Environmental. Charity incomes ranged from £12,000 up to £350,000.
Chain 5
Our fifth and final chain was launched with Cardiff Rivers Group, an inspiring volunteer‑run charity that protects and improves Cardiff’s waterways through clean‑ups, habitat work and recycling initiatives. The chain travelled 47 miles, transitioning from Environmental to Health and to Community support. The charities involved had incomes ranging from £39,000 to £620,000.
