Nomination guidance notes
What is the Big Society award?
The Big Society award has been created to recognise individuals, groups or organisations that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities.
What is the Big Society?
The Big Society is about moving power away from central government and giving it to local communities and individuals. It has three main aims:
- Empowering communities – helping and enabling local people to have more of a say in how decisions are made in their area and about the services they receive.
- Changing and opening up public services – encouraging public sector organisations and individuals to demonstrate new and innovative ways of delivering public services and enabling charities, social enterprises, private companies to deliver public services.
- Promoting social action – encouraging people to be more involved in their communities and to volunteer and give money.
Nomination process
Who can make a nomination?
Anyone, including people who benefit from the group, organisation or individuals activities, may make a nomination.
Nomination should have at least one other independent person that has agreed to second the nomination. This person should not be on the committee of your organisation or be family or close friends.
You can nominate yourself or the organisation you run, work for or are involved with but, if you do, there must always be two independent people that have agreed to second the nomination.
Occasionally, the Prime Minister may himself personally nominate an organisation that he believes exemplifies the Big Society.
When should I send in my nomination?
The Awards are an ongoing process – if you miss one nomination deadline there will be another a couple of months later.
All winners will be announced within three months of each deadline – details of winners will be placed, one a week, on the Big Society Awards page. The deadlines for this year can be found in the Table below.
| Round | Nominations to be submitted | Notification from |
| One | December 13th 2010 at 6p.m. | End of April 2011 |
| Two | February 14th 2011 at 6p.m. | End of June 2011 |
| Three | May 23rd 2011 at 6p.m. | End of September 2011 |
| Four | October 4th 2011 at 6p.m. | End of May 2012 |
| Five | December 12th 2011 at 6p.m. | End of August 2012 |
| Six | February 6th 2012 at 6pm | End of November 2012 |
| Seven | July 16th 2012 at 6pm | End of March 2013 |
| Eight | December 4th 2012 at 6pm | End of June 2013 |
Can you give me any advice on completing the nomination form?
Complete the form accurately and tell us as much as you can within the number of words or characters allowed, and follow the instructions in each section.
It is important that you provide full, but concise information about the group, organisation or individual that you are nominating, and explain exactly what they are doing and how they demonstrate the aims of the Big Society.
In the judging process the questions that the panel will use to assess your nomination are in section 4 ‘Your recommendation’.
If you need help or advice to complete the form, please use the contact details at the end of this document.
Can I tell someone that they have been nominated?
Yes and we may contact the group, organisation or individual direct to clarify points that you have made on the nomination form.
Will every group that is nominated receive an award?
No, the award will not go to every group that is nominated.
What proof of support must I provide?
On the form you must give the name of at least one supporter for the nomination, and their relationship to the group, organisation or individual. This should be someone who is independent from the group, individual or organisation, for example a funder, someone who has benefitted from the activity described in the nomination form or a Member of Parliament.
What happens after I send in my nomination?
We will send an acknowledgement, but we will not be able to discuss a particular nomination while it is being considered or if it does not succeed.
Can I send extra information with my nomination, i.e. an annual report or promotional material?
Please do not send any additional material. Your nomination will only be judged by the information on the nomination form. If we require extra information we will contact you or the person, group or organisation that you are nominating direct.
Criteria
Can you give me examples of the types of groups, individuals or organisations that the award might go to?
The types of activity that the award will recognise are: -
- People, groups or organisations that have brought the community together for some common good.
a. This could be a neighbourhood or community group, charity, residents association or an individual who brings people together in a community. - People who have given substantial time and money to help others
- Cooperatives and/or mutuals that are delivering public services.
- Individuals, groups or organisations that have been catalysts to new ways of delivering public services.
- Public sector organisations that are leading the way in
a. Partnership working/commissioning with civil society organisations and social enterprises
b. Encouraging employees to give time and money.
c. Engaging the public in the shaping of public services - A business that is leading the way in
a. Encouraging employees to give time and money.
b. Partnership working with a public sector or civil society organisation to support local solutions. - A local authority that is leading the way in
a. Encouraging employees to give time and money.
b. Partnership working with a private sector or civil society organisation in support of local solutions.
c. Engaging with local people and involving them in decisions in ways that go beyond normal consultations. - A social enterprise/civil society organisation that is leading the way in
a. Getting communities together for some common good
b. Partnership work with local or central government to find local solutions
c. Delivering outstanding impact by involving volunteers
The group or organisation does not have to be a registered charity or company.
Is the award for international activities?
The organisation, group or individuals work should be based within the United Kingdom.
What will a successful individual, group or organisation receive?
The winners each receive:
- a plaque;
- a signed certificate from the Prime Minister;
- copies of the electronic awards logos to use on their websites and publicity materials;
- an invitation to a twice yearly reception at No.10 Downing Street;
- a press release that appears on the Nunber10 website and that the Number10 staff then circulate to the local and regional press in the winner’s home area.
What is the judging process?
There will be two steps to the judging process: -
- The nomination will be reviewed by Government officials to ensure it is correctly completed and fulfils the basic criteria.
- Nominations that fulfil the basic criteria will then be judged every three months by a panel of previous winners and individuals from civil society organisations, government and the private sector.
Read more:
Enquiries
Email: BigSocietyAward@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk, please type “Big Society award” in the subject area.
Or
Tel: 020 7271 1464
(for nominators).
Or
Big Society Awards
c/o Office for Civil Society
4/16
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Confidentiality and security
Any information you provide will be held securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Your personal details will not normally be disclosed to third parties. In some circumstances however we may need to disclose your personal details to a third party so that they can provide a service you have requested, or fulfil a request for information. Any information about you that we pass to a third party will be held securely by that party, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, and used only to provide the services or information you have requested.
You have a right to access the personal information we hold about you at any time. If you wish to do this, please put your request in writing (explaining that your interest is in the Big Society award) to the Cabinet Office Openness Team:
Openness Team
Cabinet Office
Room 4.45
Admiralty Arch
The Mall
London SW1A 2WH