Charity of the Year

The Charity of the Year is nominated by Waddesdon Manor staff and volunteers and is not an open application programme. 

Charity of the Year offers Waddesdon Manor staff and volunteers the opportunity to support a charitable cause in the local community. The successful charity is awarded a grant by the Rothschild Foundation with staff and volunteers joining events or volunteering opportunities across the year.

Staff and volunteers nominate charities which are;  

• Within 30 miles of Waddesdon estate 
• Provide benefit to the local community
• Work in the key areas of interest to the Rothschild Foundation and Waddesdon: arts and heritage, environment, and communities/social welfare
• Support people as primary beneficiaries (rather than animals)

Charity of the Year

2026 – Aylesbury Homeless Action Group

We are delighted to announce that our Charity of the Year as nominated and voted for by our staff and volunteers is Aylesbury Homeless Action Group (AHAG).

One of the colleagues who put AHAG forward shared the following: “Nationally, homelessness is set to rise in 2026 and has already increased by 76% since 2016. This trend is reflected in Buckinghamshire, where a shortage of affordable housing and ongoing economic pressures continue to affect many. Homelessness is often the result of multiple, compounding challenges over time, so supporting people effectively requires a whole‑person approach.”

AHAG has been supporting people experiencing homelessness in our community since 1992. They work with adults (18+) in Aylesbury who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in unsuitable accommodation, partnering closely with Wycombe Homeless Connection and other key organisations across Buckinghamshire.

Their work focuses on helping individuals secure safe, affordable housing, address underlying issues, and build the confidence and stability needed to move towards independent living. As CEO James Boultbee explains: “In the last few years, the number of people approaching us for help has more than doubled — times have been tough for many people in Aylesbury and beyond.”

Further details on their support can be found here

Previous 

2025 – Youth Concern

2024 – Aylesbury Women’s Aid

2023 – Chiltern Music Therapy

2022 – Vana Trust Organic Farm

2021 – Hector’s House

2020 – Lindengate

2019 – Florence Nightingale Hospice

2018 – Bucks Young Carers