Welsh charities and voluntary organisations have a chance to be recognised in the sector’s annual celebration of excellence, and this year, there is a new award for digital inclusion.
Nominations for the 2016 Third Sector Awards Cymru, which honour the work and achievements of groups and social enterprises across the country, close on Friday, 11 November.
Run by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) with main supporter Class Networks, a voluntary sector communications and ICT services specialist, organisations shortlisted for a prize will be invited to a gala awards dinner in Cardiff in February.
Winners at the 2015 awards included Cardiff-based Pedal Power, an unique project that supports parents, carers and friends to accompany service users on bike rides; Merched y Wawr’s ‘Ategolion at y Galon’ (Accessories for the Heart) campaign that saw the sale of donated accessories raise more than £23,000 in its first year, all of which has been given to the British Heart Foundation in Wales; and African Community Centre, which has supported over 400 individuals and families in Swansea from different ethnic minority backgrounds, most of whom are asylum seekers and refugees.
‘Our third sector in Wales is a vibrant and thriving community of organisations and people that do inspirational things every day,’ said WCVA Chief Executive Ruth Marks. ‘We’re asking for nominations for groups deserving recognition for their achievements to give them their moment in the spotlight.’
‘Class Networks is very proud to partner with WCVA for the Third Sector Awards Cymru 2016,’ said Jonathan Levy, Chief Operating Officer at Class Networks. ‘This is our ninth year of supporting the awards and the nominated groups continue to amaze and inspire us with the work they do and the lengths they go to in order to help improve people’s lives. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to hearing the stories of this year’s nominees’.
There are seven award categories, with organisations able to nominate themselves in the first six. But the category for most admired organisation will see entries going to a public vote, details of which will available on WCVA’s website after the closing date.
The categories are:
- The Class award for best communications – for groups with effective or innovative ways of communicating their message to service users and volunteers.
- The environmental award – for organisations that have helped deliver environmental benefits for their communities.
- The health, social care and wellbeing award – for groups that have helped people to be happier and healthier in their communities.
- The award for good governance – to recognise groups whose trustees ensure their organisation is well run and exemplar.
- The award for innovative fundraising – for organisations that have run campaigns or events demonstrating creativity and innovation in fundraising.
- The award for digital inclusion (supported by Digital Communities Wales) – for organisations that promote basic digital skills and help their members or service users to get online.
- Award for the most admired organisation – for organisations most respected for their inspirational work and the causes they represent.
For further information visit www.wcva.org.uk
