By Isle of Wight Observer
Mountbatten Isle of Wight and Mountbatten Hampshire celebrated a double win at the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2025, held on Thursday March 20, in London, when the charity’s powerful film, ‘Without Mountbatten’, was awarded a Bronze Judges’ Award and a Silver People’s Choice Award.
Set in an empty warehouse, the film features a glass container and hundreds of yellow balls, each representing the £30,000 it costs to run the hospice every day, to illustrate how less money from the NHS will affect the services they offer. Staff, volunteers and patients provide the narrative, each sharing a powerful personal story about how Mountbatten plays a part in their lives. The NHS already contributes less than 30 per cent of the funding needed for the hospice, with the balance made up of fund-raising and legacies.
Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten’s CEO, said: “This is a brilliant achievement for our Mountbatten team and creative partners, NOSY Creative Agency. The message this film carries has never been more important – highlighting the critical funding challenges faced by Mountbatten and hospices across the country. The opportunity to bring this message to a national audience is invaluable.”
Competing in the £15m-£50m turnover category, Mountbatten stood alongside some of the UK’s most prominent national charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Parkinson’s UK, RNID, Samaritans, and ShelterBox.
The judges praised ‘Without Mountbatten’ for its emotional impact and storytelling, saying: “This film provides a stunning visual representation of the impact on people’s lives Mountbatten has.”
