A SOUTHAMPTON domestic abuse charity has scooped a major national award, beating out more than 400 charities across the UK.

The Yellow Door charity, who work on improving the lives of people affected by domestic or sexual abuse across Hampshire, was chosen as one of 10 UK winners of the 2020 GSK Impact Awards.

These awards are designed to recognise the outstanding work of small and medium sized charities, working to improve health and wellbeing in communities across the UK, with the winners receiving £30,000 in unrestricted funding as well as expert support and leadership development provided by The King’s Fund.

Yellow Door will receive their award at a ceremony held at the Science Museum in London in May, along with the nine other 2020 GSK IMPACT Award winners.

The charity's award-winning STAR project works in schools across Southampton to engage young people in conversations about healthy relationships, which helps them to understand consent and how to keep safe online, with their peers and in their communities. ​Last year, the project reached more than 13,000 young people.

Katie Pinnock, Director of UK and Ireland Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said: “Yellow Door is a dynamic, innovative charity that is always looking at the needs of its community and evolving its services. It takes a holistic approach to tackling domestic and sexual abuse, not only offering frontline support to victims but also proactively engaging young people in conversations about healthy relationships and consent. We were also impressed by its efforts to reach increasingly diverse groups, including dedicated services for victims of honour-based violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriages.”

Southampton has one of the highest rates of reported domestic and sexual abuse in England, at more than double the national average.

In the last five years, reported sexual offences have risen by 240% and domestic violence offences by 170%, and Yellow Door attributes this increase to greater confidence among victims to report as well as raised public awareness of these crimes and their negative individual and social impact.

The 2020 GSK IMPACT Award recognises Yellow Door’s significant impact in the community and the charity will now be invited to join the "Awards Network", A UK wide scheme of more than 85 previous award winners, who work together to develop leaders, find new ways of working and provide mutual support.

Tara Doel from Yellow Door said: "Following such a robust independent assessment, we are very honoured to have our work recognised by such a prestigious award. Our staff and volunteer team have shown exceptional dedication in working to meet the growing need as awareness of domestic & sexual abuse improves and reporting increases. It is our service users that inspire this dedication and we will do all we can to use this fantastic opportunity to strengthen the quality and reach of the services we provide them.”