Best Mates Wins National Charity of the Year!

What a moment last Friday was for Best Mates! Back in March, we were very proud to win Charity of the Year at the South West Business Awards, a win that automatically put us forward for the national awards at the Great British Expos.

On Friday 25th September, we headed to the national awards knowing we had already secured Silver, but with the opportunity to go one step further. We were up against 21 other charities from across the country, all doing fantastic work in their communities.

And we only went and won it! Best Mates – We Got Ya was named National Charity of the Year!

For a charity that started from lived experience and a simple determination to make sure people facing some of the toughest moments in their lives don't have to face them alone, this is huge.

It's recognition for our Mates, volunteers, Walk 'N' Talk teams, trustees, partners, fundraisers and everyone who has backed what we're trying to achieve.

We're all incredibly proud of how far Best Mates has come, but we're even more excited about where we're going next.

National Charity of the Year, WOW. Not bad for a bunch of Mates who simply want to be the difference!

REPS Empowered

Best Mates was proud to be part of the REPS Empowered Women’s event - another opportunity to get out into the community, have important conversations and raise awareness of the support that’s available.

Events like this matter because they create space for real conversations. They allow people to learn more about Best Mates, understand how our support works and, importantly, know where they or someone they care about can turn when life becomes difficult.

A big thank you to everyone involved in bringing the event together and for allowing Best Mates to be part of it.

£5,000 Raised at the Best Mates Go Kart Grand Prix

What a day at Buckmore Park! Our Best Mates Go Kart Grand Prix brought together teams for some serious competition, plenty of laughs and, most importantly, a fantastic cause.

We are delighted to share that the event raised an incredible £5,000 for Best Mates. Every pound raised helps us continue providing support, growing our services and being there for more people who need someone in their corner.

Thank you to every driver, team, supporter and business that got involved. The competition may have been fierce on the track, but off it everyone was pulling in the same direction: helping Best Mates change lives.

Best Mates Takes to the Airwaves

Jeff and Emma joined Chris Dawes on Swindon 105.5 this month to talk all things Best Mates.

Chris has been a true supporter of the charity, so it was great to spend time with him talking about our work, our community and what lies ahead. It was also the perfect way to throw Emma straight into the deep end, with her first-ever radio show!

Emma took it in her stride and helped share the Best Mates message with listeners across Swindon. Opportunities like this are incredibly valuable because the more people who understand who we are and how we can help, the more chance we have of reaching someone at the point they need support.

52km Complete. Now Jeff Is Going for 52 Miles

Challenge complete...and then extended!

Jeff set himself the challenge of swimming 52km in 52 weeks at the age of 52, raising awareness and support for Best Mates along the way. He completed the full 52km in just 24 weeks.

Rather than stopping there, he has now pushed the target further and is aiming to complete 52 miles within the original 52-week period.

The next stage is going to be very different. The open-water temperatures are already starting to fall, making every swim tougher physically and mentally. It is a fitting reminder of one of the messages behind the challenge: sometimes progress is simply about turning up, doing what you can and keeping moving forward.

To support Jeff, donate to the challenge, or to find out more about his epic swim click here.​

Supporting National Suicide Awareness Week

Emma and Jenny joined forces with Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind during National Suicide Awareness Week, supporting Lynette and the team as they raised awareness of suicide prevention and the support available within our communities.

For Best Mates, being part of these conversations is incredibly important. Suicide awareness is not something that should be limited to one week of the year, but dedicated awareness campaigns allow organisations to reach more people, challenge stigma and remind people that asking for help is a strength.

Working alongside other organisations is also central to our approach. No single charity can be everything to everyone, but by understanding each other’s services and working together, we can help more people find the right support at the right time.

Winter Ball Tickets Are Still Available

There is still time to join us for our final major event of 2026: the Best Mates Winter Ball on 28th November.

It is a chance to dress up, enjoy fantastic food, entertainment, music and dancing, celebrate everything the Best Mates community has achieved this year and help us raise vital funds for the work still ahead.

Why not bring your team and make it your Christmas party? You can enjoy a brilliant night together while knowing your evening is helping Best Mates continue making a difference.

Tickets are still available by emailing emma.matlock@bestmates.org, so please join us for what promises to be a fantastic celebration.