Turning Pain into Purpose with Hayley Charlesworth, is one of the most moving episodes of the Business Awards Show we’ve featured. Hayley is founder of Harry’s Pals, a charity born from her own experience of being told, when her son Harry was just three days old, that he had suffered significant brain damage and would need round the clock care for the rest of his life. What followed was a desperate search for emotional support that simply did not exist. So Hayley built it herself.
Hayley talks openly about those first terrifying days. She remembers the grief of losing the future you had imagined for your child, and the very real mental health crisis facing families of children with life limiting conditions. Even worse, she quotes a statistic from University of Birmingham research that one in ten parent carers have attempted suicide.
Harry’s Pals now offers free counselling and therapy, funded short breaks for families on low incomes, and peer support groups for parents who just need to be in a room with people who truly get it. The charity supports families across England and receives no government funding whatsoever.
Hayley is also working with MPs to make emotional support mandatory for families leaving hospital with a seriously ill child. It is a cause that deserves every bit of backing it can get.
Learn about her award wins in 2025 and some of the amazing fundraising initiatives she has planned for the coming year.
If you would like to help Harry’s Pals financially, as a volunteer, or to create a fundraising activity, please do get in touch. Listening to Hayley you’ll soon understand why it’s worth it.
About Hayley
Hayley is the founder of Harry’s Pals. Inspired by her own experience after her son Harry was diagnosed with significant brain damage, Hayley launched the charity in 2022 to provide counselling, therapy, peer support, and respite for families facing similar challenges. Alongside her work with Harry’s Pals, she is a dedicated campaigner for carers’ rights and disability inclusion, helping to establish Harry’s Pledge and working with organisations to promote accessible, carer-friendly environments.
Hayley is passionate about growing the charity creating a vital support network and a powerful voice for families navigating life after a life-changing diagnosis.
{2:10} The Harry’s Pals story.
{8:32} Hayley’s background (spoiler: it’s not in charities!).
{10:03} The first steps to starting the charity.
{12:50} The services Harry’s Pals offers to families in need.
{18:50} Supporting families across the UK.
{22:04} Winning awards in 2025.
{22:58} How you can support Harry’s Pals.
{24:32} The upcoming Inca Trail.
{25:28} Running a charity without Government funding.
{26:19} The scale of help delivered in 2025.
{28:03} How Hayley copes with such a demanding lifestyle.
Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk
Connect with Hayley: https://harryspals.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harrys-pals/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harryspals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrys_pals_charity/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqz4JgylgxL010aSGh3mLmg
