30/07/2026
Wonderful news – Janet Murphy MBE, founder and CEO of Escape Family Support, has been named a finalist in the North East Charity Awards 2026, in the Charity Leader of the Year category.
Janet founded ESCAPE in 1995 following the tragic death of her daughter, after recognising that families affected by a loved one's substance misuse had nowhere to turn for specialist support. Thirty years on, ESCAPE remains the only service of its kind in Northumberland, supporting thousands of families across the county.
Since 2016, Janet has worked full-time as an unpaid, voluntary CEO, choosing to protect frontline services and staff roles rather than draw a salary — a decision that has helped ESCAPE survive and grow through some of the most challenging years faced by the voluntary sector.
Over the past year alone, under Janet's leadership ESCAPE has supported more than 1,050 people, expanded services into rural and underserved communities, and secured significant multi-year funding to safeguard the charity's future. Her leadership has previously been recognised nationally with an MBE, and ESCAPE has been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and Investors in People Platinum accreditation.
The North East Charity Awards shine a spotlight on outstanding charities, inspiring leaders and committed fundraisers across the region, celebrating those working tirelessly to support others. Run in partnership with regional business and voluntary sector organisations, the awards give the North East a chance to recognise and thank the people and organisations who strengthen our communities, across twelve categories covering charities, individuals, fundraisers and supporters.
The North East Charity Awards 2026 finalists were announced this month, with winners set to be revealed at a ceremony at The Fed in Gateshead on Thursday 10 September 2026.
Everyone at ESCAPE Family Support is incredibly proud of Janet and this richly deserved recognition.
You can see the full list of finalists on the North East Charity Awards website. https://northeastcharityawards.co.uk/northeastcharityawards2026/en/page/finalists
