The 2024 GoCardless JustGiving Awards were last night. Here’s who won and what happened.
In the last 24 years, people and charities worldwide have used JustGiving to raise more than £7 billion for good causes. And 2024 unearthed some of the most inspiring fundraising achievements yet.
We saw record-breaking numbers across the board. Over 18,000 total nominations. Over 50,000 total votes. More than ever before!
And eight new sparkling trophies were awarded on one magical evening ✨
Hosted by one of the UK’s most-loved broadcasters, the incredible Rylan Clark, the 2024 ceremony was one we’ll never forget. Here are your winners and the most unforgettable moments.
2024 GoCardless JustGiving Awards Winners
Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year
Jonathan Bailey
In the name of his close friend Gordon, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey climbed the Three Peaks – the three highest tallest mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales – in only 24 hours, raising over £2000 on JustGiving for MND Scotland. His fundraising journey didn’t end there. Jonathan went on to take the Hackney Half for LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us – raising over £33,000.
Presented by TV star, broadcaster, and 2023 GoCardless JustGiving Awards finalist Adele Roberts & GoCardless MD of UK & Ireland and Chief Customer Officer Pat Phelan, Jonathan was awarded Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year for his incredible commitment to the causes important to him.
Donate to Jonathan | Learn more about Jonathan
Creative Fundraiser of the Year
Emma Webb
In memory of her daughter, Emma completed a massive 15-day, 158-mile trek from Wales to London, pulling a life-size 80kg horse statue and raising £59,000 on JustGiving for Papyrus & Riders Mind.
Presented by BBC’s Glow Up judge and renowned makeup artist Dominic Skinner and award-winning fundraiser and JustGiving Award winner Caroline Jones, Emma accepted the award for Creative Fundraiser of the Year by thinking out-of-the-box to raise money in a fresh and memorable way.
I mean, who’s going to forget the sight of Emma pulling that life-size horse across the country?
“Being a finalist and sharing my story has enabled awareness to grow around suicide prevention. Brodie, this is for you, my beautiful girl.”
EMMA WEBB, 2024 GOCARDLESS JUSTGIVING AWARD WINNER
Donate to Emma | Learn more about Emma
Endurance Fundraiser of the Year
Claire Allen
To raise awareness of homelessness, Claire walked the entire 5,000-mile coastline of Britain in just one year, raising £14,000 on JustGiving for Shelter and Only a Pavement Away.
Claire went above and beyond with her really, truly, incredibly difficult challenge, accepting the trophy for Endurance Fundraiser of the Year from Paralympics gold medallist Ellie Simmonds OBE and 2023 GoCardless JustGiving Award winner Gary McKee.
To put that in perspective, if you were to walk 10,000 steps per day for the next year of your life, you’d still only go about 1,600 miles!
“For me, spending a year sleeping somewhere different every single night was a choice. There are thousands and thousands of people who don’t have a home. So if this walk could help just one family find a home, then that’s enough.”
CLAIRE ALLEN, 2024 GOCARDLESS JUSTGIVING AWARD WINNER
Donate to Claire | Learn more about Claire
Fundraising Team of the Year
Angel Mums
In memory of their young children who lost their lives to brain tumours, this group of eight mums came together and took on a charity skydive, raising more than £77,000 on JustGiving for The Tessa Jowell Foundation.
Angel Mums accepted their Fundraising Team of the Year trophy from Mike Palmer and BBC Radio 1 Presenter and broadcaster Rickie Haywood-Williams for rallying together, jumping out of a plane, and making a sky-high impact for the cause they love and are personally affected by.
“This is more than winning an award to us. It’s having our children honoured and raising much-needed awareness of the desperate plight of brain tumours. To our children up there in the sky, we miss you with every breath.”
ANGEL MUMS, 2024 GOCARDLESS JUSTGIVING AWARD WINNER
Donate to Angel Mums | Learn more about Angel Mums
Outstanding Commitment Award
Sam Perkins
Despite losing all movement due to the ravaging effects of motor neurone disease, Sam went on to complete the 2024 London Marathon, raising +£39,000 on JustGiving for Stand Against MND.
Sam and his team accepted his well-deserved Outstanding Commitment Award from fundraising veteran and award-winning actor and podcast host Sunetra Sarker for his personal connection, deep commitment, and incredible effort.
Donate to Sam | Learn more about Sam
Teen Fundraiser of the Year
Maya Tohid
12-year-old Maya completed a 100km personal running challenge – all whilst undergoing 24 sessions of radiotherapy treatment, raising +£10,000 on JustGiving for Young Lives Vs. Cancer.
Maya left her mark on this world by going the distance and doing something *truly* outstanding for her charity, accepting her Teen Fundraiser of the Year Award from Faye Winter and Bradley Riches.
“Wow! What an incredible honour to stand here and hold this amazing award in my hand. But this award is not just mine. It belongs to our community. You are all amazing.”
MAYA TOHID, 2024 GOCARDLESS JUSTGIVING AWARD WINNER
Donate to Maya | Learn more about Maya
Young Fundraiser of the Year
William Reckless
William completed a huge 4-mile challenge for the hospital that saved his life after he developed sepsis at just 3 years old, raising £7,000 on JustGiving for Nottingham University Hospitals Charity.
William accepted his Young Fundraiser of the Year Award from TV star and pro footballer Jake Quickenden and 2023 GoCardless JustGiving Award winner Harry Smith for his exceptional effort in this huge, especially for his age. Well done, William!
“The hospital saved my life, so I wanted to give them something back. Also, I wanted to say a big thank you to my sister Georgia, and my mum and dad, and people who supported me and fundraised.”
WILLIAM RECKLESS, 2024 GOCARDLESS JUSTGIVING AWARD WINNER
Donate to William | Learn more about William
Special Recognition Award
Rob Burrow CBE
We were deeply honoured to present the Special Recognition Award to the late Rob Burrow to recognise his extraordinary fundraising achievements following his motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis in 2019.
Using the same determination he showed on the rugby field, Rob continued to fight, becoming a powerful advocate for MND awareness and research.
To date, more than £11 million has been raised on JustGiving by Rob, his friends, family and supporters for the MND Association and the Leeds Hospital Charity.
Their fundraising efforts have been instrumental in establishing the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds. The state-of-the-art facility aims to provide care and support for individuals living with MND and their families, embodying Rob’s vision of a dedicated centre that offers hope and comfort.
We were privileged to have Rob’s wife, Lindsey, join us to accept this award on his behalf. Lindsey’s strength and support has been vital in carrying forward Rob’s legacy.
Rob truly was a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all.
Our Judges
Thank you to our inspiring celebrity judging panel for leading the way in choosing our incredible 2024 GoCardless JustGiving Awards finalists:
- Amy Dowden
- Pascale Harvie
- Rickie Haywood-Williams
- Caroline Jones
- Pat Phelan
- Jake Quickenden
- Adele Roberts
- Sunetra Sarker
- Ellie Simmonds OBE
Learn more about our 2024 judges
Our Sponsor
Thank you to our fantastic headline sponsor GoCardless, who makes the direct debit and Instant Bank Transfer donation experience delightful for every JustGiving donor.
Thank you
Thank you for supporting these incredible fundraisers and their charities. And thank you to everyone involved in making the 2024 GoCardless JustGiving Awards happen.
It wouldn’t be possible without you! 💜
