Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity Shortlisted for Prestigious Charity Governance Award

15 charities with outstanding governance and exceptional trustees have been recognised as the best and brightest stars in each category

We’re thrilled to announce that Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) has been shortlisted for this year’s Charity Governance Awards in the category Improving Impact: Charities with 4–30 paid staff.

This recognition shines a light on the incredible work our board and team have done to strengthen our reach and deepen our impact across the region. What began as a West Yorkshire-based charity has now become a truly Yorkshire-wide organisation, thanks to bold leadership, grassroots partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to the people we serve.

“We are over the moon to be shortlisted for this award,” said David Grant-Roberts, Charity Director of YBTC. “We’ve worked incredibly hard over the past few years to expand our impact, and it’s so rewarding to see that recognised.”

From Local Focus to Regional Reach

For years, our mission has been clear: to improve the lives of everyone affected by brain tumours across Yorkshire. But in practice, many of our services were concentrated around Leeds, unintentionally leaving gaps in care across South, East, and North Yorkshire.

That changed in 2024.

Our board spearheaded a strategic transformation—recruiting trustees from underrepresented areas, consulting with NHS professionals, charities, and people with lived experience, and reimagining our values and delivery models through a truly inclusive lens.

“The trustees recognised that our services were too focused on West Yorkshire,” said Simon Thomson FRCS, Chair of Trustees. “We made it our mission to expand into all corners of the region—North, South, East, and West—and build a charity that truly reflects the needs of all Yorkshire residents affected by brain tumours.”

The impact has been extraordinary:

• A 150% increase in in-person support groups

• A 186% rise in support contacts

• The launch of eight new partnerships across Yorkshire

• Regional reach for our peer support walks and financial hardship grants

• A 90% satisfaction score from our service users

“We’ve made sure our support is a real even fit across North, South, East, and West Yorkshire,” said David. “You just can’t overestimate how much it means to people to have access to peer support—to feel understood, less isolated, and better equipped to navigate a brain tumour diagnosis.”

In a recent survey, 100% of group attendees reported feeling more connected and said their mental health had improved as a result of attending. Over 90% said they gained practical tips that helped them manage their diagnosis.

“Sometimes, you just need to speak to people who really get it—and that’s what we provide,” David added.

Powered by Community, Grounded in Compassion

At YBTC, we support anyone in Yorkshire affected by a brain tumour—regardless of age, diagnosis, or postcode. From hardship grants to bereavement support, from peer-led walks to welfare advice, our work is rooted in compassion and powered by community.

Alongside direct support, we also invest in research—over £1 million to date—helping build new capacity in Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull. We support PhD research, fund brain tumour tissue banks, and collaborate with NHS trusts to push the boundaries of what’s possible in brain tumour care.

Our board’s leadership has made all of this possible.

A Huge Thank You

Being shortlisted for the Charity Governance Awards is a proud moment—not just for our trustees, but for every member of the YBTC family. Thank you to our dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, and most importantly, the families and individuals we support.

“We are so pleased and flattered to be recognised,” said Simon. “It’s a reflection of the incredible team effort behind every step of our progress.”

“We can’t wait for the awards in June,” David shared. “Good luck to all the nominees—we look forward to meeting you.”

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