Are you doing something new, something bold or something different? If so, the following categories will allow you to showcase your endeavours and successes. You don't necessarily need to be doing something groundbreaking; instead it may be new to you, new to the sector or a new way of tackling an age-old problem.
The judges will use the following category specific criteria to judge these categories, so please ensure you cover all questions within your entry.
Best Charity Film
Awarded to a charity and/or agency that has produced the most inspiring awareness raising or fundraising film of the year. The film should be no more than five minutes in length.
Examples could include direct response TV ads or online supporter engagement campaigns.
- Aims: Describe the brief. What is the aim of the film? What is the film asking of viewers - awareness, engagement or perhaps donations. (250 words max)
- Approach: What approach was taken to tell the story? Why was film selected as the medium for this campaign? What challenges did you face producing this? Where did the film run and why was that selected? Please include the budget for the film. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was the film? How did you measure success? What impact did the film have? (250 words max)
Please upload the full version of the film to YouTube or Vimeo and provide the link as part of your submission.
Past Winners:
Best Use of Social Media - NEW
Awarded to a charity or charity organisation that creatively used social media to tell a story about its work, raise awareness of a campaign, or even combat negative attention. The judges will be looking for imaginative use of content that sets the organisation apart from the rest.
- Aims: What are the goals of the charity/organisation? How did it set out to achieve these? (200 word max)
- Approach: What approach did it take and how was it delivered? Who was involved in the delivery? Include any challenges that were faced. (250 word max)
- Achievements: How effective has it been, and what was the return on investment? (250 word max)
- Optional case study can be provided.
Big Impact Award
Awarded to a project that has had a substantial impact on national or international life.
- Aims: What was the aim of the project and when did it begin? (200 words max)
- Approach: What approach did it take and how was it funded? What challenges did the project have to overcome? (250 word max)
- Achievements: How effective was the project? Please include details on how success was measured. (250 words max)
Past Winners:
Brand Development
For the best new, changed or evolved brand. This can range from a totally new identity, the merging of two or more organisations, logo changes or an on-going evolution of an existing brand.
- Aims: When and why did the organisation decide to refresh its brand? (200 words max)
- Approach: Who was responsible for designing the new brand (i.e. was it designed in-house or by an agency)? What was the budget for the new brand? How did the process work? For example, did the charity undertake research or engage services users in the rebrand process? What challenges did the charity face? (250 words max)
- Achievements: What difference has the brand change made to the charity? For example, has it helped improve brand awareness, attract more service users or increase fundraising? (250 words max)
Please include before and after examples of the branding.
Past Winners:
Breakthrough of the Year
This award is an opportunity to showcase something new or different. Areas could include supporter and/or donor engagement, extending the reach of the charity or introducing a new way of working.
- Aims: What was the project and its objectives? (200 words max)
- Approach: What approach did it take? How was it delivered? Include any challenges you faced. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was it? Include details on how success was measured. (250 words max)
Past Winners:
Charity of the Year
This prestigious award will go to the charity or voluntary sector organisation that has had a truly exceptional year and whose recent achievements have attracted the admiration of the sector. Please explain in no more than 1,000 words why you believe the organisation should win the award.
Please address the following questions in your entry.
- Charity overview: How many people does the charity employ? When was it founded and who does it support?
- What are the charity's objectives? How does it achieve its goals?
- What has the charity achieved over the past year? What challenges has it faced and how did it overcome them? What impact has the charity had on its beneficiaries or the wider sector in the past year?
- How has the charity evaluated its success?
Please note, long-listed entrants for this category will be invited to present at the live judging day on w/c 7 September as part of the judging process.
Past Winners:
Communications Agency of the Year
Awarded to an agency that has helped to create a highly successful communications campaign for its client, or provided an exceptional level of support and advice.
- Aims: What was the name of the client you assisted and what did you hope to achieve? (200 words max)
- Approach: What campaign did you run and what techniques did you use? (250 words max)
- Achievements: How successful was the work? (250 words max)
Past Winners:
Communications Campaign of the Year
Awarded to a charity for a highly successful, innovative or inspiring communications campaign.
- Aims: What were the goals of the campaign and why was it needed? (150 words max)
- Approach: Who was responsible for devising the campaign concept (i.e. was it an agency or devised in-house)? What approach did the campaign take and how was it promoted? Please Include any challenges you faced. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was it and what impact did it have? (250 words max)
Optional case study can be provided. Entries are also welcome from agencies on behalf of charities.
Past Winners:
Covid-19: Best Service Delivery Innovation - NEW
Awarded to a charity that delivered a unique and effective service innovation in the face of social distancing rules and increased pandemic demand.
- Aims: What is the charity service, and how did the pandemic impact its delivery? (200 word max)
- Approach: How did the charity innovate and adapt the service? What were the key challenges to consider? How did the organisation put the adapted service into practice? (250 word max)
- What did the adapted service achieve? How did you measure its success? How did the adaption impact beneficiaries? (250 word max)
Digital Innovation of the Year
Awarded to a charity or social enterprise that is pushing the boundaries of digital technology to reach supporters, donors, or beneficiaries.
- Aims: What was the project and its objectives? (200 words max)
- Approach: What approach did it take? How was it delivered? Please include any challenges you faced. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was it? (250 words max)
Optional web link
Past Winners:
Enterprise Award
Awarded to a social enterprise or charity that has significantly improved its income from its commercial activities in recent years. Examples might include through the use of charity shops, the sale of products or services, or renting out office space or land.
- Aims: What are the goals of the charity/organisation? How did it set out to achieve these through its commercial activities? (200 words max)
- Approach: What types of commercial activities did it undertake? Include any challenges that were faced. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How successful has it been and how has the money been used to support beneficiaries? (250 words max)
Past Winners:
Fundraising Campaign
Awarded to an innovative fundraising campaign that achieved or exceeded its target.
- Aims: What was the campaign and what was its objectives? (200 words max)
- Approach: What approach did it take and how was it delivered? Who was involved in the delivery the campaign (ie. was it managed in-house or by an agency)? How much was spent on the campaign? (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was the campaign and what was the return on investment? (250 words max)
Past Winners:
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Awarded to the best charity marketing campaign of the year. Examples might include the successful marketing of an organisation’s products, services or membership programmes, or the use of affinity marketing.
- Aims: What was the campaign and its objectives? (200 words max)
- Approach: What approach did it take and how was it delivered? Who was involved in producing the campaign and what challenges did the charity face? (250 words max)
- Achievements: How effective was the campaign? (200 words max)
Past Winners:
Small Charity, Big Achiever
Awarded to an organisation with an income of less than £500,000 a year that has made a significant impact with its work.
- Aims: What are the goals of the charity/organisation? What did it set out to achieve? (200 words max)
- Approach: How did it achieve these goals? Include any challenges that were faced. (250 words max)
- Achievements: How successful has it been? Please include details on how success was measured. (250 words max)
Past Winners:
