SupportActionNet
Conference 2008

Entry for the awards is now closed. You can vote for the shortlisted entries here

Introduction

The SupportActionNet Awards recognise outstanding support services for vulnerable people that have improved the quality of service users' lives by generating optimism, achievement, hope, freedom, and fun. The Awards recognise innovative approaches to problem solving, a proven track record of success and ways of working and outcomes that are capable of being sustained and replicated elsewhere.  Awards have been made in 2006 and 2007.

Supported by the Ashden Trust, prize money of £11,000 in total will also be awarded to enable winners to build on their achievements by using their approaches, skills and knowledge to do more of the same thing with greater impact, or to develop new ideas into viable services.

Timetable Sumary

• 5 September 2008: closing date for entries
• 22 September 2008: shortlist judging. Announcement of ‘long shortlist'
• 30 September 2008: online voting for finalists
• 5 November 2008: announcement of winners and commendations at SupportActionNet conference in London.

Method of application

Organisations apply for the Awards online and will be asked to supply:

• a 75-word summary of achievement (who's done what with whom, how, and with what impact) together with a photo or image that illustrates the ethos or achievement of the project
• a maximum 1,500-word profile of their project with detail on objectives, methodologies, achievements, evaluation, etc
• a 300-word proposal for how the current project or related activities could be developed or expanded with additional financial support.

Projects will also need to identify (ideally but this is not a mandatory requirement) a service user (or group of service users) who can speak on behalf of the project and its achievements at the SupportActionNet conference in London on November 5th should they be chosen as finalists.

Nominated projects/organisations are not limited to members of SupportActionNet.

Method of selection for Awards and Prize Money

Judging Panel

A judging panel will decide on a ‘long' shortlist after all entries have been received. The members of the judging panel are funders and practitioners who have been closely involved in SupportActionNet and related projects:

• Sara Llewellin, City Bridge Trust
• Nicola Pollock, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
• Rob Williamson, Northern Rock Foundation
• Rachael Byrne, English Churches Housing Group
• John Crowther, Thames Reach
• Meshach Mills, formerThames Reach service user
• Liz Dixon, National Probation Service
• Clive Martin, Clinks.
• Val Keen, Communities and Local Government

Judging Criteria

The Judging Panel will look for evidence of ways in which the organisation has improved the quality of service users' lives by generating optimism, achievement, hope, freedom, and fun. In addition, the judges will look for projects that can:

• demonstrate innovative approaches to problem solving
• have a proven track record of success
• are capable of being sustained and replicated elsewhere.

Voting

The ‘long' list of organisations decided by the judging panel and a brief summary of their entry will then be published on the SupportActionNet website. Practitioners from the SupportActionNet database will be invited to vote online for the best entries.

Final decisions

The recommendations of the judging panel and votes of practitioners for  finalists will then be considered by the final judges (Mark Woodruff from the Ashden Trust and Gerard Lemos from Lemos&Crane). They will decide on the winners and how the prize money will be allocated.

Presentation of awards and prizes

Winners will be announced and awards presented at the SupportActionNet Annual Conference on 5 November 2008, attended by Sarah and Bobby Butler-Sloss of the Ashden Trust.

Entry Rules and Procedures

1. Entries must be completed using the online form at www.supportactionnet.org.uk/awards2008booking.php
2. Receipt of all entries submitted online will be automatically acknowledged.
3. Entrants may be asked to provide further information.
4. The judges' decision is final. Awards will be made at the judges' discretion and no correspondence will be entered into concerning any decision.  Not all the awards advertised may be awarded if the judges consider the criteria have not been met.  Additional commendations may be made at the judges' discretion.
5. The content of any entry may be used for informing other practitioners and also for publicity purposes unless the entrant withholds their consent to this in writing.
6. Entrants are deemed to have accepted these rules and procedures and to have agreed to be bound by them when entering this competition.

Enter online now