November 2024

We are extremely proud and delighted to announce that we were crowned winners of  the Community Impact Award at the recent Pride of St Helens Awards 2024.

Sponsored by Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action, the Community Impact Award recognised which business or organisation has had the biggest positive impact on their community.  The panel considered the following questions when selecting the finalists – Which business or other organisation has had the biggest positive impact on their community? How have they made St Helens a better place or helped people? Have they used their heart as well as their business head to serve their area?

Standing Tall Foundation were up against two other very worthy nominees – Buzz Hub and Town in the Town, who both make a massive impact on the community in their respective ways.

The 12th Pride of St Helens awards – sponsored by the Mikhail Hotel & Leisiure Group – was staged in Saints’ 1873 Lounge on Friday.

BBC Radio 5 Live’s presenter Fraser Dainton hosted the event, which saw the St Helens Darts Academy take the evening’s headline Pride of St Helens award.

The first celebration of the town’s community stars took place in 2012 and was declared a resounding success – prompting organisers the Steve Prescott Foundation and the St Helens Star to make it an annual fixture.

Our Founders John and Andy were in attendance on the night to accept the award on behalf of everyone at the Foundation. Andy first received the headline Pride of St Helens award 10 years ago at its inception, and went on to win the Courage Award in 2022.

Thanks to everyone that voted  for us and  a massive congratulations to all other nominees and winners from the night!

CEO and Founder John Tabern said: “We are delighted to be nominated for and win this award. “It represents a great deal of hard work by team STF in helping our local community, which is central to our purpose.”

“We would like to thank the Pride of St Helens selection committee for seeing fit to include us in the final three.”

Here  is a snippet of Andy’s acceptance speech below:

The Standing Tall Foundation are asking for people to donate new toys and gifts to support the most vulnerable families in St Helens.

We are looking to distribute over 1500 gifts via 50 schools in the Borough who have identified the greatest need, as well as homeless families, to make sure that the most vulnerable children receive gifts this Xmas. 

If you would like to donate anything, we are accepting gifts from newborn up to the age of 17.

There are several drop off and collection points in the town as follows:

Standing Tall Foundation

REDS Cafe – Rainford

Natwest

Smyths Toy Store

Dunelm

Whistles Cafe, Eccleston

Cosey Homes

If any other businesses want to become a collection point or be involved in any other way, we are open to volunteers! We are also requesting wrapping paper, sellotape, gift bags and gift tags if anyone can help with those.

If you would like to get involved with the appeal, please get in touch via the email below:

christmas@standingtallfoundation.org.uk