Big Society Award Explained

The Big Society Award was a British award set up by prime minister David Cameron in November 2010 as part of the Big Society initiative. The awards recognised community work done in the UK that demonstrates the Big Society. Over fifty awards had been presented by the start of 2015.^[1] The awards had been discontinued by 2018.

The award was focussed on three areas:

• "outstanding contribution to community"
• "improving lives and society through innovation, collaboration and new partnerships"
• "engaging in social action"

Recipients

• FoodCycle, January 2011, for creating "an opportunity for young people to volunteer and learn new skills while helping others in their community".^[2]
• The Old Vic Tunnels, February 2011, for "offering opportunities for young people to gain experience in production and be part of an innovative and diverse arts venue".^[3]
• Mitzvah Day, November 2011, for "inspiring people to come together on one day and do something positive for their community".^[4]
• Gateway 97.8 (a local community radio station in Basildon Essex), December 2011, for helping "students and unemployed people … gain valuable skills to gain employment" and providing "valuable support for local charities".^[5]
• Waitrose, January 2012, "for its Community Matters Scheme which… allows shoppers to choose three charitable causes each month to receive a £1,000 donation from their store".^[6]
• Social media surgery, February 2012, for having "shared their time and expertise to help so many local groups make the most of the internet".^[7]
• AFC Wimbledon (a community-owned and run social enterprise football club), March 2012, for having "united a community, given them the chance to have a real stake in their club’s future and made a huge difference to the lives of many people in the area".^[8]
• Street Angels, June 2012, for working "hand in hand with their local services to make their towns, estates and streets safer places".^[9]
• Hethersett village, March 2013, for working "to improve residents' fitness and wellbeing and local facilities to keep the Olympic legacy alive".^[10]
• City Gateway, July 2012, for working "to help local women and young people gain the skills needed to progress into work".^[11]
• London 2012 Games Makers, November 2012, recognised the huge contribution made by London 2012 volunteers, including more than 70,000 Games Makers and Host City volunteers, by presenting them with a Big Society Award. This is the 50th award given to individuals or groups who help to build a bigger, stronger society.
• The Lightbox, December 2012, for setting up and running a charity museum and gallery in Woking, Surrey.^[12]
• PATHS, June 2013, for supporting homeless services in Oxfordshire.^[13]
• Mosaic Network, July 2013, for "offering mentoring to young people in some of the most deprived areas of the country, while boosting and encouraging volunteering".^[14]
• Herne Hill Velodrome, August 2013, for working to save a 1948 Olympic cycle track.^[15]
• British Paraorchestra, September 2013, for "providing opportunities, challenging perceptions and entertaining audiences".^[16]
• Fair Finance, October 2013, for supporting "200 London businesses to access the finance they need to get started or grow".^[17]
• Everton in the Community, November 2013, "for activities about employment, education and health".^[18]
• UK Fire and Rescue Service, July 2014, "for its ground-breaking work with young people to educate about fire prevention and tackle anti-social behaviour."^[19]
• Spacehive, November 2014, "for helping local communities to fund neighbourhood improvement projects online."^[20]
• Body & Soul, December 2014, for their "work to support people living with HIV, their friends and their families".^[21]
• Creation Development Trust, December 2011, for their work "people working to help their own community deliver the improvements they want to see"^[22]

External links

Archived official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Information about organisations who have been awarded a Big Society Award . . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 16 January 2015.
2. Web site: FoodCycle wins Prime Minister's Big Society Award. FoodCycle. 21 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120324060709/http://www.foodcycle.org.uk/dl/FoodCycle-wins-Prime-Ministers-Big-Society-Award-21012011.pdf. 24 March 2012.
3. Web site: The Old Vic Tunnels win Prime Minister's Award. 18 February 2011. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street.
4. Mitzvah Day wins Prime Minister's Big Society Award . 30 November 2011 . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street .
5. News: Radio station in Eastgate Centre wins award. Echo. 28 December 2011. 9 April 2015.
6. . Waitrose wins Big Society Award . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 5 January 2012 . 2016-01-02.
7. The Social Media Surgery is latest Big Society Award Winner. 16 February 2012. Prime Minister's Office. 7 November 2017.
8. AFC Wimbledon wins the Big Society Award. 27 March 2012. Prime Minister's Office. 7 November 2017.
9. News: . Halifax street project wins Big Society Award . BBC News . Halifax . 21 June 2012 . 15 February 2015 .
10. Norfolk village dedicated to Olympic legacy wins Big Society Award. 14 March 2013. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street.
11. News: Tower Hamlets charity City Gateway wins Prime Ministers Big Society Award. GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 19 July 2012. 21 March 2019.
12. News: The Lightbox in Woking wins Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. GOV.UK.
13. Web site: PATHS wins Big Society Award for services supporting homeless in Oxfordshire . . 21 June 2013 . www.gov.uk . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 17 November 2015 .
14. Mosaic wins Big Society Award: 6,000 young people to be mentored this year. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. GOV.UK. 26 March 2019.
15. Herne Hill Velodrome is latest winner of Big Society Award. 12 August 2013. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. GOV.UK.
16. News: . British Paraorchestra win Prime Minister's Big Society Award . Classic FM . 26 September 2013 . 29 January 2015 .
17. Web site: Fair Finance wins a Big Society Award . https://archive.today/20150202134300/https://www.fairfinance.org.uk/news/180-fair-finance-wins-a-big-society-award . dead . 2 February 2015 . 21 October 2013 . www.fairfinance.org.uk . Fair Finance . 2 February 2015 .
18. Everton in the Community score Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 25 November 2013. 30 December 2015.
19. Web site: Press Release - UK Fire and Rescue Service wins Big Society award . . 4 July 2014 . www.cfoa.org.uk . The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) . 29 January 2015 .
20. Web site: Prime Minister hails the rise of 'civic crowdfunding' . . GOV.UK . Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street . 16 January 2015 .
21. Web site: 2013 – Big Society Award . https://archive.today/20150130134027/http://www.bodyandsoulcharity.org/support-us/giving-time-and-skills/awards/2013-big-society-award/ . dead . 2015-01-30 . . December 2013 . www.bodyandsoulcharity.org . Body & Soul . 30 January 2015 .
22. Web site: Creation Development Trust is the first Big Society Award winner in Wales . 2023-08-24 . GOV.UK . en.