CoLab Exeter celebrated with double win at Exeter Living Awards

Community organisation CoLab Exeter has been recognised with two top honours at the 2025 Exeter Living Awards, taking home both Charity of the Year and the overall Platinum Award.

The double win highlights CoLab’s role as a central part of Exeter’s support network, bringing together charities, public services, and community groups to help people facing challenges such as homelessness, domestic abuse, addiction, and poor mental health.

Based on King William Street, CoLab acts as a shared space where organisations work side by side to offer joined-up, practical help to those who need it most.

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Chief Executive Fiona Carden said the awards reflect the strength and dedication of the people and partnerships behind CoLab: “We were delighted to win both the Charity of the Year and Platinum Winner awards at the 2025 Exeter Living Awards. We’re incredibly proud of these accolades, and the reasons are threefold.”

“First, they recognise the teams who are the engine room of CoLab, people who bring kindness, courage, and integrity to their work every day, often in extraordinarily challenging circumstances. These awards are a recognition of their dedication.”

“Second, they celebrate the partnership work that happens across Exeter, which I believe sits at the heart of CoLab’s success. We celebrate collaboration; we’re courageous and determined when collaboration gets tough, and we always think about the long-term benefits for the communities we support.”

“Finally, and most importantly, I hope these awards shine a light on the work we do to support, serve, and amplify the voices of the communities we work alongside, people who often experience significant disadvantages and can feel marginalised from the day-to-day life of our city.”

“In our recently launched strategy, we talk a lot about hope, and these awards truly reflect that sense of hope.”

She added that while demand for CoLab’s services continues to grow, recognition like this helps the team stay motivated and focused: “At CoLab, our work happens in complex systems and challenging times. Demand is rising, resources are shrinking, and the path ahead can feel uncertain.”

“In that context, hope isn’t naïve optimism. It’s a disciplined, sustaining practice, a leadership approach that helps us hold on to possibility for ourselves, our teams, and the communities we serve.”

Judges at the awards praised CoLab for its collaborative model and its ability to create long-term impact through partnership. The Platinum Award recognises the overall standout winner from all the category finalists, a rare achievement for a charity.

The recognition comes as CoLab continues to expand its programmes in health, wellbeing, and social connection, working with partners across Exeter to make support more accessible and inclusive.

“Awards and recognition like this help us keep hold of that hope,” said Fiona.

CoLab’s success at the Exeter Living Awards serves as a reminder of how much difference local collaboration can make, and how Exeter’s community spirit continues to drive real change.