The Helpline Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced
Nominations for the Helpline Awards 2026 closed on Tuesday 30 June 2026.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered this year's awards.
We have been genuinely inspired by every submission we've received. The standard has been incredibly high, and it has been a privilege to read about the passion, innovation and dedication shown by helpline teams across the UK.
Your entries are a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact our sector has every day, and we couldn't be prouder of the amazing work taking place throughout the helpline community.
Award Categories and Shortlist
This year’s award categories and shortlisted nominees are (in no particular order):
Helpline of the Year
- Amina – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre Helpline
- Brain and Spine Foundation Helpline
- Mind - Support Line
- MND Association – MND Connect Helpline
- NAPAC - National Association for People Abused in Childhood Support Line
- Refuge – National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Employee of the Year
- Ann Williams – Welsh Women’s Aid
- Hollie Baxter - ERIC
- Jessica Kundi – Rethink Mental Illness
- Kate Dacombe – National Autistic Society
- Liam Tullberg - Nacoa
- Natalie Thompson - Mind
- Rahila Waheed – AMINA – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
- Stacey Medford – Women’s Aid in Luto
Volunteer of the Year
- Caroline Ivory – Age UK
- Claire Sawyer - Beat
- John Ashton – Child Death Helpline
- Olivia Jefferies – National Autistic Society
- Paul Stiff – Addiction Family Support
- Susan Boddy – Both Parents MatterVolunteer of the Year
Lifetime Recognition Award
- Ann Williams- Welsh Women’s Aid
- Ellen Watters – Myeloma UK
- Hilary Henriques - Nacoa
- Suki Kaur - FreeVALifetime Recognition
Wellbeing and Support
- Addiction Family Support
- Brain and Spine Foundation
- BulliesOut
- Rethink Advice and Information Service
- Scope
- The Silver Line – Age UK
Impact and Change
- Dogs Trust Behaviour Support Line
- Epilepsy Action
- Nacoa – National Association for Children of Alcoholics
- Pancreatic Cancer UK
- The Eve Appeal
Each category will have two winners, recognising excellence across both small and large charities.
We wish all of our shortlisted nominees the very best of luck.