Local charity wins awards

Action Through Enterprise, which is a charity that launched in Ramsbury and has its office in Hungerford, tackles poverty and creates opportunities for people in rural Ghana. The charity has been recognised at the 2025 Third Sector Awards. At a ceremony, held in London last Friday September 12, Action Through Enterprise was crowned the winner of the Small Charity Big Achiever award. Ernestina Gan, who works with disabled children who are often isolated, stigmatised and abused in Ghana, was Highly Commended at the awards in the Unsung Hero category.

Action Through Enterprise, which boasts support across Wiltshire and Berkshire, was set up by Sarah Annable-Gardner from her parents’ house in Ramsbury in 2012. Since then, it has helped almost 4000 children to attend school in Upper West Ghana by providing meals, books and period products, as well as backing 180 entrepreneurs and farmers to grow thriving businesses.

One of the charity’s most life-changing projects is its support for disabled children in a place where they can face abuse and isolation.

Sarah Annable-Gardner, Chief Executive, said: “We’re raising a glass across two continents! To be named Small Charity Big Achiever is wonderful recognition of the huge impact we make on our small budget. I’m beyond delighted that our amazing Ernestina Gan was Highly Commended as an Unsung Hero – so well deserved. It’s a ‘cheers’ to Action Through Enterprise and a massive thank you to our much appreciated supporters in Wiltshire and Berkshire who make this vital work possible.”

Michele Carlisle, Head of Communications and Partnerships at Action Through Enterprise, said, “The award comes in a year of firsts for Action Through Enterprise: expanding to a new district for the first time; switching on the internet for rural children, hitting the milestone of getting 100 disabled children into school – and even addressing the House Commons International Development Select Committee on ‘Value for Money’. Action Through Enterprise is truly a small charity, big achiever!”

The Third Sector Awards aim to celebrate and to recognise individuals and organisations in the not-for-profit sector who make a difference, transform lives and empower communities. The awards have been running for over 20 years.