Big Society Awards - background
The Big Society is about moving power away from central government and giving it to local communities and individuals. The Big Society Award has been created to recognise individuals, groups or organisations that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities.
Launching the awards, the Prime Minister said:
“There are some amazing projects and remarkable voluntary work going on in towns and cities up and down the country, by all kinds of organisations from large enterprises to tiny grassroots schemes and inspirational individuals.
These awards are a chance to pay tribute to those making a valuable contribution to their community, the real champions of the Big Society, but perhaps more importantly, I hope they will motivate many others to take action, get involved and drive change in their area.”
Make a nomination
The award focuses upon three specific areas:
- Promoting social action – people being, and being encouraged to be, be more involved in their communities through giving time, money and other resources.
- Empowering communities – local people taking control of how things are done in their area and being helped to do this by local government and others.
- Opening up public services – public sector organisations and individuals demonstrating innovative ways of delivering public services and charities, social enterprises and private companies showing new ways of delivering public services.
Anyone can make a nomination for an individual or group to be recognised with an award. Just fill out the nomination form and submit to the email address supplied.
You may wish to read our nomination guidance notes before completing the form.
Big Society Award winners
Read about the people, groups and organisations that have received awards for making a difference in their communities through social enterprise.
- Park View 4 U
- Public Achievement
- Street Angels
- UBS Bridge Academy
- Linklaters LLP ‘Learn for Work’
- Social Media Surgeries West Midlands
- Waitrose Community Matters Scheme
- Cool2Care
- BT
- Sports Traider/Lance Haggith
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Children’s Forum – London
- Digi Steps – South West
- Anfield Breckside Community Council – North West
- Christine Gibson – Eastern region
- Wotton under Edge Swimming Pool Club – South West
- Higher Croft Action Group – North West
- Disability Challengers – South East
- Bevendean Local Action Team – South East
- The Sweet Project – West Midlands
- Shelley Community Association – Yorkshire and Humberside
- Old Vic Tunnels – London
- Make a Difference – South East
- WhyNotChange – North West
- HERO (Holistic Enterprise Realising Opportunities) – North West
- FoodCycle – London
- Biddick Hall Community Focus Group – North East
- Altogether Better – Yorkshire and Humberside
- Greenwich Leisure Ltd – London
- Kendray Initiative – Yorkshire and Humberside
- CREATE – Yorkshire and Humberside
- Central Surrey Health – South East
- The Welcome – North West
- Magic Breakfast – National
- Orange RockCorps – National
- Blacon Community Trust – North West
- Lance Haggith – Bedford
- Beccles Lido Ltd - Beccles, Suffolk
- Mitzvah Day - international
- Creation Development Trust - Blaengarw
- Gateway 97.8 – Basildon
- Serve – East Midlands
- City Gateway – London
- The Glenmore Trust – North Cumbria
- Cherry Orchard Gardening Services – Staffordshire