Sense Awards Celebrating Achievements and Excellence Whose achievements do you think deserve recognition? The Sense Awards celebrates the achievements of deafblind people and those who support them. I’m sure you know someone or a team that really impressed you over the last year. There are many people who really make a real difference in so many ways, as demonstrated by last year’s winners. From Lex Grandia’s work with the United Nations to Elinor Scott, a volunteer at Bristol Zoo, the diverse accomplishments of all the winners astounded us. But we know countless other people are achieving incredible things everyday, and that’s where you come in. We are now looking for 2010 Sense Awards nominees. We need you to tell us about the special people that you feel deserve recognition. This brochure explains how to nominate and also includes a form for you to use. There are eight categories and you can nominate as many people as you like in each one. The closing date for nominations is Friday, July 30th. Please don’t put it off, get your nominations in as soon as possible. If you have any questions or require information to be sent to you in a different format, please contact Katie-Ann Dinsdale: katie-ann.dinsdale@sense.org.uk or 020 7014 9391 or0845 127 0060 (text phone). Happy nominating! Richard Brook, Chief Executive Award Categories: Young Deafblind Person of the Year (Supported by Young Sense) Who can be nominated? A young person, aged under 25, who has either congenital or acquired dual sensory impairment and has achieved something extraordinary over the last year. They may have conquered tough challenges at work, study or in everyday life or perhaps they are especially creative or inventive. They have acquired impressive new skills. They champion deafblind causes, act as an inspiration to others or are involved in fundraising. Deafblind Person of the Year Who can be nominated? A person aged 25 or over who has either congenital or acquired dual sensory impairment and has made an exceptional contribution to the cause of deafblindness over the last year. They are particularly innovative, are an inspirational role model, have produced work of an exceptionally high standard or overcome difficult obstacles. They have excelled in areas such as campaigning, personal activities, PR or fundraising. Employee of the Year Who can be nominated? A current Sense employee who has contributed significantly to the organisation’s work over the last year. They may work in a support role, suchas fundraising or communications, or work directly with deafblind people and their families. Volunteer of the Year Who can be nominated? A volunteer or group of volunteers who have made an exceptional contribution to a deafblind person, a group, or Sense’s work over the last year. They volunteer in a support capacity, such as fundraising, or work directly with deafblind people and their families. They may have done something particularly innovative, produced work of an exceptionally high standard, or overcame difficult obstacles. Team of the Year Who can be nominated? A group of employees that made an outstanding contribution to Sense’s work over the past year. The team can either work in a support role, such as fundraising, or directly with deafblind people and their families. The team may have undertaken ground-breaking work, provided support of an extremely high standard, or triumphed over obstacles or challenges. Local Partnership/Community Award Who can be nominated? External employees, service providers, individuals or teams who have worked with Sense and have excelled in supporting the charity and deafblind people over the past year. They have had a significant impact on a deafblind person, group, Sense service, or Sense as an organisation, over the past year. Innovation in Sense Who can be nominated? An individual or team who has introduced new ways of working, or has significantly changed a practice, leading to an improvement in Sense’s work in the last year. This includes acquiring and using knowledge about deafblindness to enhanced the lives of deafblind people. This could be a person or a team working anywhere at Sense. Exceptional Contribution to Sense Who can be nominated? A current or former Sense employee or volunteer who has made an exceptional contribution to the organisation’s work over the past year. They work, or have worked, in a supportive capacity such as fundraising, or directly with deafblind people and their families. Their work is pioneering, of exceptionally high quality, or has required difficult obstacles to be overcome. 2009 Winners Local Partnership / Community Award Winner 2009: Chipstead Valley Primary School This South London school won for its outstanding educational and social inclusion work with a young deafblind child. Staff were determined to make the child’s placement at the school succeed. They worked closely with the child’s family in order to support them, and secure the best possible education for their child. Volunteer of the Year Winner 2009: Elaine Steer Elaine Steer supports many Sense events. She is always enthusiastic, committed and willing, and shows a great deal of empathy and support to the deafblind child, or family, she supports. Elaine also holds fundraising events locally and often donates the proceeds to Sense. She is an inspiration to the other younger volunteers, showing just what can be achieved. Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2009: Lex Grandia This award is granted by Sense’s Chief Executive each year. Lex was recognised for his life-long work on behalf of deafblind people. He represented deafblind individuals on the European Deafblind Network and European Disability Forum, and was subsequently elected Secretary General, then President, of the World Federation of the Deafblind. In this role he supported deafblind people across the world and has been at the forefront of ensuring legislation recognises deafblind people’s needs in various countries. Through the International Disability Alliance he was also heavily involved in the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. Deafblind Person of the Year Winner 2009: Keith Hutton Since moving in with Sense Keith’s confidence, acceptance of touch and understanding of two-way communication has developed immensely. He enjoyed his first ever holiday abroad to Turkey last summer. He explored the sand and the sea at his leisure, tried a variety of different foods and drinks, coped brilliantly on the plane and mapped his new environment perfectly. Your Questions Answered When is the closing date for nominations? Friday 30th July 2010. Who can nominate? Sense staff, volunteers and members. Individuals can nominate themselves or nominations can be made by their colleagues or line managers. Can I nominate more than one person or team? Yes. But you will need to complete more a separate form for each nomination. Can I nominate someone that I nominated last year? Yes. How do I nominate? Complete a separate form for each nomination, indicating the award category that you want to nominate them in. For extra copies of the form email katie-ann.dinsdale@sense.org.uk or phone: 0207 014 9391. How do I submit my nominations? Please ask a friend, relative or support worker to help you fill out the enclosed application form and post it back using the freepost envelope provided to Sense, 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Alternatively, ask a friend, relative or support worker to help you download a form from www.sense.org.uk, fill it in and email it to katie-ann.dinsdale@sense.org.uk What happens next? Where appropriate, we will send your form to the senior manager of the nominee. They will add a statement saying why this person or team should be considered. Who chooses the winners? The judging panel is headed up by Pete McCollin and includes previous winners, trustees and external supporters. When will the results be announced? All short-listed nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony, in London on 6th October 2010. The names of all shortlisted nominees and award winners will be posted on our website after the ceremony and announced in the following edition of Talking Sense.