We know that charities are still working with a huge degree of uncertainty in challenging times. The CharityComms Inspiring Communicator Awards recognise outstanding communications and individuals who have gone above and beyond to support and empower others.
At its core, the winners will be inspiring communicators. But how will judges select a winner from a shortlist of fantastic candidates?
Below we outline the criteria for the award categories.
Eligibility for all categories –
- Winners can only be shortlisted and selected for one award.
- Individuals or teams must work or volunteer in or with a registered charity in England, Wales, Scotland and/or Northern Ireland. This extends to agencies and freelancers who are commissioned by charities unless the award is for charity employees or volunteers only.
- Nominations must be for communications work, roles and/or functions. Nominations can be open to individuals who do not have communications or creative fields in their job title, unless otherwise stated.
- We are asking for succinct demonstrations of the impact of the work and/or individuals so our judges can make their decisions. You can demonstrate your impact through a combination of first-hand experience, data and/or testimonials.
Eligibility criteria for award categories
Team of the Year
- The teams’ roles must be based in the charity and responsible for its communications activity.
- The team must include two or more individuals.
- Must demonstrate the impact of the team’s work by outlining the achievements of a comms project and/or portfolio or the impact for the organisation.
- Must demonstrate how the team works well together, including how they uphold the team’s wellbeing.
Strategic Leader of Year
- Open to individuals only.
- Must hold a managerial position within an organisation, employed or voluntary.
- Must be able to demonstrate the impact of their leadership qualities, including (but not limited to) vision, collaboration, consensus building and EDI.
- Must articulate why their strategic leadership is valuable. Please demonstrate the impact their leadership has made for their team(s), the organisation, audience(s), comms work and/or thewider sector or society.
Rising Star
- Open only to individuals working within charity communications.
- Must have been working or volunteering in the charity sector in a comms role for five years or less.
- Must demonstrate excellence in their work and show the impact they have made for their team, comms work, organisation, audience(s) and/or the wider sector or society.
Inclusive Comms Award
- Must work for a registered charity, agency or as a freelancer.
- Open to individuals and teams.
- Must demonstrate how they or their work has been inclusive and the impact it has had for their team, comms work, organisation, audience(s) and/or the wider sector or society.
- Must be work that focuses on any/multiple areas of equality, diversity and inclusion, including (but not limited to) age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.
Comms Changemaker of the Year
- Must work for a registered charity, agency or as a freelancer.
- Open to individuals and teams.
- Must be able to demonstrate how their work has created and/or contributed to environmental, social and/or sectoral change.
- Must be part of an ongoing project or initiative.
Accessible Comms Award
- Must work for a registered charity, agency or as a freelancer.
- Open to individuals and teams.
- Must be able to demonstrate how they or their work has been accessible and the impact it has had for their audience(s), comms work, team, organisation and/or the wider sector or society.
Innovation Award
- Must work for a registered charity, agency or as a freelancer.
- Open to individuals and teams.
- Must be able to demonstrate how they have innovated and the impact it has had for their audience(s), comms work, team, organisation and/or the wider sector.
Best Collaboration (agency and charity)
- Must be a registered charity and agency.
- Must share a piece of work from the last year (2023) and demonstrate its impact for audience(s), organisation and/or the wider sector or society.
Best Collaboration (freelancer and charity)
- Must be a registered charity and freelancer
- Must share a piece of work from the last year (2023) and demonstrate its impact for audience(s), organisation and/or the wider sector or society.
Best In-house Campaign
- Must be the work of a registered charity only.
- Open to individuals and teams
- Must share a piece of work from the last year (2023) and demonstrate its impact for audience(s), organisation and/or the wider sector or society.
Please visit our FAQs page for more information about our Awards. If you require additional information to place your nomination or need any assistance, please contact us on admin@charitycomms.org.uk.
We will be informing shortlisted nominees of the decision in the week commencing 15 January – at which point, shortlisted candidates will be given the opportunity to confirm they are happy to proceed, secure their award ceremony tickets and will be provided with information to support announcements from their accounts.