Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards 2019

Welcome to the OCVA Charity and Volunteer Awards 2019

The date for this year’s awards has not been finalised but the event will be in September/October 2019.

Key dates

Making the nomination – useful tips

1. Start with the criteria, and finish with the criteria – Your application will be judged, scored and ranked against the general and category-specific criteria detailed in each category. Ignore this at your peril!
2. Know your audience – Our judges have to look at a lot of applications – so make sure your key points are clear and stand out. If you’ve got a lot of things to get across don’t be afraid of using bullet points, lists or even diagrams.
3. Evidence – Be sure to support impact statements with evidence and examples – use statistics, case studies, stories, testimonials and feedback to make your application stand out and engage the panel. Make sure that you do not include unnecessary information about your group. You can refer to external resources in your nomination, but please do not include any attachments (additional papers will not be circulated or considered).
4. Don’t leave it to the last minute – I know, this is so easy to say, and hard to do when you’ve got a million other pressing things to get done. But plan ahead and guard against simply cutting and pasting from several nominations.
5. Photographs of award winners may be used in subsequent OCVA publicity.
6. Please do not submit any additional items with this form.
7. Forms should be returned to OCVA by email (awards@ocva.org.uk), or post (The Old Court House, Floyds Row, Oxford OX1 1SS) by 12.00 pm on Date not set yet for 2019 .

** All forms will be retained and circulated to the appropriate judging panel. They will be destroyed after the judging process is complete **

Volunteer Awards

Sponsored by Activate Learning, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, National Citizens Service

Please nominate only one person per organisation for the volunteer awards. There will be special awards for:
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- Long Service Award
- Oxfordshire Volunteer of the Year

An independent panel of judges will select those receiving special awards from all nominated. You cannot nominate volunteers for these special awards.

Criteria and Notes

- This award is open to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the organisation or cause.
- Please do not use the phrase “above and beyond the call of duty”. All volunteers are by definition working in their own time and give of their best.
- Make sure the volunteer knows that they are being put forward and is willing to accept the award.
- Take the selection of your volunteer seriously. All volunteers put forward for an award will be honoured so it is important that each individual upholds the ethos of your organisation.
  
  Volunteer Form

Charity Awards

You can nominate a group for as many of the awards as you like, however, do not simply “cut and paste” as each award will be judged according to the criteria.
Make sure you use the correct form for your nomination.

Oxfordshire Charity of the Year: sponsored by Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council are this year’s sponsors of the Charity of the Year Award and would like to see charities come forward that are rooted in their communities within Oxfordshire. This award is open to all charities large or small and can have either a rural or urban focus. The impact of the service could similarly be local or a more wide-ranging facility across the whole county.
Winner in 2017 – One-Eighty
Winner in 2018 – ARCh
Charity Form – Oxfordshire Charity of the Year

Innovation Award: sponsored by Oxfordshire LEP
The judges will be looking for a group who has implemented significant change in their organisation over the last year. This could include introducing new systems or equipment either for staff and volunteers or for service users. The changes do not have to be connected to the purchase of new or expensive equipment. You will need to evidence how the changes have impacted on your organisation.
Winner in 2017 – Handy Voices Signing Choir
Winner in 2018 – Makespace Oxford
Charity Form – Innovation Award

Best New Group: sponsored by Jennings/Monument Community Trust
The judges will be looking for the impact a new group has had on the sector or community. The group will have been established for no longer than two years.
Winner in 2017 – Incredible Edible Hook Norton
Winner in 2018 – Sanctuary Hosting
Charity Form – Best New Group

Lifetime Achievement Award: sponsored by ClarkHowes
This award is for well-established groups who have been delivering a service over a considerable length of time. You will need to give examples of how your organisation has developed, responded to change and maintained sustainability.
Winner in 2017 – Archway Foundation
Winner in 2018 – The Gatehouse
Charity Form – Lifetime Achievement Award

Environmental Award: sponsored by Oxford Bus Company
This award is for groups who have made changes over the past year which have made a positive impact on the environment. This could include:
1. Making changes to their premises
2. Investing in schemes such as “cycle to work”
3. Working in the community to improve access to food, energy or transport.
Winner in 2017 – Charlbury Green Hub – Sharecroppers
Winner in 2018 – Sustainable Didcot
Charity Form – Environmental Award

Management of Volunteers: sponsored by Oxford Brookes University
This Award is for a manager or leader who has established or maintained a team of volunteers to deliver an efficient and effective service.
Winner in 2017 – The Hummingbird Cancer Support & Theraphy Centre
Winner in 2018 – Home-Start Oxford
Charity Form – Management of Volunteers

Working Together: sponsored by Heyford Park Management
This award is for two or more groups who can demonstrate that they have successfully worked together to deliver a new service or significantly improve an older service.
Winner in 2017 – Thrive/Leys Youth Programme
Winner in 2018 – Oxtalk
Charity Form – Working Together

Best Group in Cherwell: sponsored by Cherwell District Council
As sponsors of this new award, Cherwell District Council will be looking for a group – large or small, new or old, who can evidence that they have made a significant impact to their local community.
Winner in 2018 – The Sunshine Centre
Charity Form – Best Group in Cherwell

Best Group in West Oxfordshire: sponsored by West Oxfordshire District Council
As sponsors of this new award, West Oxfordshire District Council will be looking for a group – large or small, new or old, who can evidence that they have made a significant impact to their local community.
Winner in 2018 – Volunteer Link Up
Charity Form – Best Group in West Oxfordshire

Best Group in Vale of White Horse: sponsored by Vale of White Horse District Council
As sponsors of this new award, South & Vale District Council will be looking for a group – large or small, new or old, who can evidence that they have made a significant impact to their local community.
Winner in 2018 – The Abingdon Bridge
Charity Form – Best Group in Vale of White Horse

Best Group in South Oxfordshire: sponsored by South Oxfordshire District Council
As sponsors of this new award, South & Vale District Council will be looking for a group – large or small, new or old, who can evidence that they have made a significant impact to their local community.
Winner in 2018 – South Stoke Community Shop
Charity Form – Best Group in South Oxfordshire