National charity working with Community Gateway and hub network wins prestigious UK health award

Helpforce, a London-based charity dedicated to expanding the role of volunteers in health care, has been named one of the ten winners of the 2025 GSK IMPACT Awards. The awards, run in partnership with The King’s Fund, recognise outstanding contributions by charities improving health and wellbeing in the UK.

Supporting Health and Care in Cornwall

In Cornwall, Helpforce supports a community hub model with over 51 hubs run by the VCSE sector, providing a vital point of support for local communities. The charity’s evaluations found that if these hubs did not exist, 50% of people would have approached a healthcare provider for support instead.

The success of this model led to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board committing £700,000 per year for five years to the Community Gateway and hub network. This funding shift is moving care and resources away from hospitals and into the community, aligning with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan’s aim of enhancing community-based health support.