Newsquest, a UK local media company, has announced it has been named winner of the Best Charitable/Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at the 2026 UK Company Culture Awards — recognising its 2025 partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and celebrating a charity programme that has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2024.
Newsquest's charity partnership programme launched in 2024 with a collaboration with the NSPCC — establishing the employee-led model that has since become a hallmark of the initiative. Teams across the business raised funds, drove awareness, and used Newsquest's media platforms to amplify the NSPCC's vital safeguarding work.
In 2025, Newsquest partnered with Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialist care and support to young people aged 13–24 with cancer. It was this partnership that earned national recognition, with Newsquest's fundraising, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts praised for delivering genuine and lasting impact for young people across the UK.
The programme continues in 2026 with Centrepoint, the UK's leading youth homelessness charity — Newsquest says further demonstrating its ongoing commitment to championing the welfare of young people and using the power of local media to create meaningful change.
The judges at the 2026 UK Company Culture Awards praised the initiative, stating: "Newsquest demonstrates a powerful example of purpose-driven impact, using its
communications expertise and reach to create lasting change. With employee-led selection, strong advocacy influence and a commitment to raising awareness, this partnership goes far beyond traditional support to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact."
Henry Faure Walker, CEO of Newsquest Media Group, said: "We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition for our 2025 partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust. This award is a testament to the passion and commitment of our teams right across the UK, who have made this programme something truly special.
"Since we launched with the NSPCC in 2024, we have seen first-hand what is possible when a media organisation puts its full weight behind a cause it believes in. We are excited to continue that journey in 2026 with Centrepoint, and to keep using our platforms to support the causes that matter most to our communities."
What makes this programme particularly distinctive is its employee-led approach, added the publisher — Newsquest colleagues play a central role in selecting each year's charity partner, creating genuine ownership, engagement, and pride across the organisation.
Newsquest publishes more than 200 local media brands across the UK and says it has a monthly digital audience of over 50 million users. It publishes around 50,000 local stories each month, with many titles read — online and in print — by more than 75% of the local population. Through its journalism and commercial operations, the organisation says it continues to invest in initiatives that strengthen communities and create meaningful social impact across the UK.
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