2025 Shortlist | Tender
Tender
Shortlist – Challenge to Change
About the Charity
Tender works to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence in the lives of children and young people. Through drama-based education in schools, youth settings and universities, the charity empowers young people to learn about healthy relationships, build empathy, and stop harmful behaviours before they start.
For more than two decades, Tender has reached more than half a million people across England. Its workshops encourage young people to “rehearse for real life,” using creative methods to unpick attitudes, build confidence, and equip them to speak out. Alongside this, Tender supports adults and institutions to play an active role in prevention—turning individual impact into systemic change.
Charity number: 1100214 | Tender.org.uk
England – London | 26-100 paid staff
What the Board Achieved
Following the pandemic, Tender saw a dramatic surge in demand. Educators reported a “tsunami of disclosures” from children struggling with boundaries, consent, and connection. Rather than simply scaling delivery, the board took a step back and looked at the bigger picture. Trustees recognised the need to address root causes—not just symptoms—and took the bold decision to embed policy influence into the heart of the charity’s strategy.
The board supported the development of a 2030 vision focused on prevention at a national level. Trustees actively opened doors to decision-makers in government and helped shape Tender’s voice in public policy. This strategic pivot opend the door for Tender to contribute to the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, participate in high-level roundtables with the Home Office and Department for Education, and speaking opportunities at events such as the Labour Party Conference.
Internally, the board oversaw structural shifts to sustain this new direction. It invested in roles to strengthen communications, research and development, and committed to rigorous impact evaluation to support evidence-based advocacy. Importantly, it also deepened Tender’s youth engagement by creating a pathway for young people to join the board itself—a vital move for a charity working with young voices.
What Inspired the Judges
Judges were impressed by the board’s bold, forward-thinking approach. Rather than simply expanding service delivery in response to rising demand, trustees took a step back to look at the bigger picture. They recognised the need to shift from solely responding to domestic abuse and sexual violence to influencing policy and preventing harm at a systemic level.
The board’s decision to embed policy work into Tender’s core strategy showed courage and clarity. Trustees mapped their goals to government priorities, opened doors to key stakeholders, and invested in a leadership structure capable of delivering long-term impact.
The move to include young people directly on the board was particularly powerful—ensuring the voices of those the charity serves shape decision-making at the highest level. Judges praised the board’s humility, openness to learning, and consistent focus on the charity’s mission—setting a strong example for other charities to follow.
By combining evidence, advocacy and youth engagement, Tender’s board is not just navigating change—it’s helping to lead it.
