Sheila McKenchie Foundation Awards

Award categories:

Conflict Resolution
Peace direct
Working to promote security, stability and peace, this award is for campaigners who tackle the root causes of conflict and strive to bring people together.

Consumer Action
Which?
The things we buy in the shops, the services we use whether in a hospital or a school are central to our lives. The poorest people in our community have the greatest stake in getting high quality goods and services at a price they can afford. This award is for campaigners who are fighting to get a fair deal for all.

Economic Justice
Joseph Rowntree Foundation/Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

Campaigns working to tackle the problem of homelessness; bring jobs and investment into deprived communities; or seek to redistribute wealth and opportunities either in Britain or in other countries. This award is for those who are trying to fight for equal life chances for people growing up in the UK or abroad.

Environment
The Tree Council

This award will highlight the hundreds of campaigners working to provide sustainable solutions to the environmental problems we face locally and globally.

Health and Social Care
Age Concern

Society is defined by the way in which it cares for people and seeks to enhance the quality of life for everyone. This award is for campaigners who work to promote public health and improve the way in which people are cared for.

International Campaigner
Concern Worldwide

This award will recognise campaigners based outside of the UK in the global South, working to achieve social or environmental justice in their home countries. In partnership with Concern Worldwide this award will target campaigners living in the lowest 40 countries in the world as defined by the United Nations Human Development Index.

Social Inclusion
Shelter

Working to break down social barriers and maximise the opportunities open to all members of society, this award is for campaigners who are tackling social disadvantage and inequality.

Transport
Simon Norton

This award is for campaigners working to improve access at a local level or creating alternative solutions to meet the transport challenges of our time.

Young Campaigners (aged 18-24), in memory of Guy Hughes
BOND/ Oxfam/ Crisis Action

This award is for campaigners working towards global justice, challenging the root causes of world poverty, international conflict, environmental destruction or human rights abuses.

The Foundation has joined with a group of Guy Hughes closest friends to introduce a new award aimed at supporting younger campaigners.
Guy Hughes was an inspirational activist who gave huge amounts of his energy to many campaigns and issues. He was tragically killed in an accident earlier this year. At the time of his death, Guy was the Executive Director of Crisis Action. He will be deeply missed by his family, his girlfriend, his many friends and everyone who has worked with him and known him over the years.

How to apply
Applications to the awards are made by completing an application form. You can download this from the website, fill it out electronically and email it to awards@sheilamckechnie.org.uk by the closing date 18 December 2006.
Alternatively if you prefer fill out the form by hand download and print the PDF version and post it to The Sheila McKechnie Foundation,2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF. Don’t forget to print neatly and use black ink.
You will need to supply two referees who know you in a campaigning capacity and are available to be contacted in late January, early February 2006.
We suggest you to check out the guidelines and eligibility before completing a form.
Application guidelines
The Sheila McKechnie Awards support emerging and grassroots campaigners fighting for a more equal and just society. We do not support any given cause over another but rather we are looking for the passionate, committed and visionary individuals that are the driving force behind any successful campaign.
Campaigns can be focussed on global, national, regional or community issues but must be based in the UK.
We award individuals not groups, although you are still eligible to apply if you campaign on behalf of a group.
Make sure to highlight in your application how:
you are having or have already had impact whether at local, national, regional of global level
you have the potential to achieve greater things with our support
you have vision for the future of your campaign
What category should I apply for?
There are 9 categories under which you may apply in 2007. We take a broad view of what each category covers. Make sure you indicate on your application which category you are applying under. If you are unsure email your query to awards@sheilamckechnie.org.uk
If your campaigning work is outside your current employment, please let us know if this will cause any problems for you or your employer.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for the Sheila McKechnie Awards you must:

Be a UK resident
work on a campaign based in the UK (but the focus can be global, national or local)
have been campaigning for less than 5 years (this can be longer if you work on a voluntary or part-time basis)
be over the age of 18
(if you are applying for the Young Campaigners award) be between the ages of 18-24
be involved with a campaign that fits in with one of our 9 categories
(if employed) have permission to be released to participate in the support programme
be campaigning on an issue that affects the wider community, not just one individual

If you are unsure about whether your campaign qualifies email us at awards@sheilamckechnie.org.uk

Any applications in support of campaigns that are discriminatory or offensive will be automatically disregarded.