Christian charity wins top award in Sunday Times Best Companies list

Christian charity The Message Trust has been awarded first place in The Sunday Times' annual Best Companies survey, in the Not-For-Profits category.

The award was presented at a gala dinner at Battersea Evolution in London on Wednesday evening.

The charity was placed second in 2017 and eleventh in 2016.

Michele Hawthorne, Karen Beech, Collette Dallas (Finance Director), Carl Beech (Deputy CEO), Andy Hawthorne (Founder and CEO), Sam Ward (Director of Ministry) and Ian Rowbottom (Director of Operations) with the awards.

For the second year running, founder and chief executive Andy Hawthorne also collected a special award for Best Leader.

Hawthorne, who collected the award with his senior leadership team, said: 'We were so honoured last year to come second and never would have dreamed of being able to top that. We really value all our staff and I'm delighted that this year they've helped us to place even higher this year.'

The Message Trust has been demonstrating the Christian faith in schools, prisons and tough communities across the UK for more than 25 years. Having started in Manchester, it now operates from UK hub locations in Manchester, South Wales, Scotland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and London, and internationally in South Africa, Canada and Germany.

'There's never been a more exciting time for us as an organisation – we're growing faster than ever before,' Hawthorne said. 'It's incredible to think that we've literally gone from working out of a spare bedroom to the global movement we are today, reaching hundreds of thousands of people a year.'

News
Danny Kruger: Britain should be 'confidently Christian'
Danny Kruger: Britain should be 'confidently Christian'

Reform MP Danny Kruger has spoken of the need for Britain to once more assert itself as a  country with a long and rich Christian Heritage.

400 girls 'missing' thanks to sex-selective abortions
400 girls 'missing' thanks to sex-selective abortions

Sex selective abortions appear to be taking place within the Indian community, data suggests.

Community pantries mark a million visits as new research highlights impact on food insecurity
Community pantries mark a million visits as new research highlights impact on food insecurity

Community pantries across the UK have recorded their one millionth visit, as new research suggests the membership-based food model is helping thousands of households reduce food insecurity, cut costs and prevent them from falling into extreme hardship.

Christmas was a mix of joy and hostility for Christians in India
Christmas was a mix of joy and hostility for Christians in India

India has witnessed a blend of joyful Christmas celebrations in many parts of the country, alongside reports of hate, hostility, and attacks on Christians this season, particularly in northern and central regions.