The VAL Awards 2021

The VAL Awards 2021

It’s time for us to celebrate the truly amazing inspirational leaders, unsung heroes and those that have gone above and beyond over the last 18 months.

Nominations are now open

This auspicious awards evening will take place at the stunning Grove Suite at Marriott Hotel in Leicester on Thursday 28th October 2021.

Join us in celebrating the fantastic contribution volunteers, charities, social enterprises and community groups make in Leicester & Leicestershire.

This year we will be hosting our second Voluntary Sector Awards, at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester and we want you to nominate the individuals and voluntary organisations that have made a difference in 2021.

We need your help to celebrate the wonderful contribution that charities make to our communities in Leicester and Leicestershire.

All you need to do is nominate a person or organisation that you think deserves recognition. VAL will shortlist the nominees in the appropriate category and a panel of judges will choose the winners.

Nominations close: Friday 1 October 2021 at 5pm.

Award categories

This year, there will be 11 Award Categories. Find out more about each award category.

  • City Charity of the Year

    This award is to recognise those groups based in and delivering services in Leicester city, and the fantastic work they do to improve our inner-city communities.

    Criteria

    • Must be based within and deliver services within the City of Leicester
  • County Charity of the Year

    This award is to recognise those groups based in and delivering services in Leicestershire, and the fantastic work they do to improve our rural and county communities.

    Criteria

    • Must be based within and deliver services within the Leicestershire area (Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Social Enterprise of the Year

    An organisation doesn’t have to be a ‘traditional’ charity in order to give something back. A social enterprise is a business which invests the majority of its profits into social good within the community, but it can also be the trading arm of a charity. This award is to recognise those social enterprises based in and delivering services in Leicester City and/or Leicestershire, and the continued excellent work they provide supporting their local communities.

    Criteria

    • Organisation must meet the broad definition of a social enterprise
    • Must be based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • CSR Champion of the Year

    Businesses who work with their local Communities are organisations who are dedicated to making the community, and the world, a better place; they deserve recognition for the continued work and support that they provide. They can also be a realistic force for good and social change.

    Criteria

    • They must be a Registered Business (https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company)
    • Must be based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Volunteer-Led Organisation of the Year

    Not all community groups are able to secure or generate enough funding to pay staff. Many rely heavily, or sometimes entirely, on volunteers to deliver services. This award is for those charities whose selfless work in our local communities often goes completely unrecognised.

    Criteria

    • Must have a minimal number of paid staff, with the majority of staff being volunteers
    • Must be based in, or deliver services in, the Leicester or Leicestershire areas (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Trustee of the Year

    Trustees are volunteers who give up their own time to guide the administration and governance of charities. Even though they’re not paid, Trustees take on a lot of personal and legal responsibility. We want to recognise those individuals who help to keep our voluntary sector running smoothly and responsibly.

    Criteria

    • Must be a trustee of a charity based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
    • Must have been a trustee Since 1 Jan 2020
    • Must be registered as a trustee on the Charity Commission database
  • COVID Hero

    This award is dedicated to the individuals, community groups, charities, or businesses of all ages throughout Leicester and Leicestershire who have worked tirelessly to support those in need, and gone above and beyond to help others during this very difficult time.

    Criteria

    • Can be an individual or an organisation
    • Nominees must be based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Young Volunteer of the Year

    Young Volunteers are just exceptional. These outstanding individuals are the future of the Charity and Voluntary Sector and should be recognised for their continued hard work, especially over the last 12 to 18 months.

    Criteria

    • Must have volunteered in 2020/21
    • Must have volunteered for an organisation based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Volunteer of the Year

    Volunteers selflessly give up their own time to help others. Though most volunteers offer their time with no expectations of rewards, we want to recognise those extra-special individuals who have gone above and beyond to help their local communities.

    Criteria

    • Must have volunteered in 2020/21
    • Must have volunteered for an organisation based in Leicester or Leicestershire (Leicester city, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby & Wigston districts)
  • Overall Charity of the Year

    The winner of this award will be chosen by our judges from the winners of the other Charity of the Year categories.

  • Lifetime Achievement award

    VAL has been around for over 50 years – this special award is chosen by us to recognise an organisation or individual that we feel has had a significant impact on our voluntary sector. It’s a way for us to say a personal thanks to someone we feel has made a particularly important contribution to our local communities.

Nomination Form

    All of these awards will be available for sponsorship, and for the first time ever, there will be a ‘buy an extra table’ gifting option. All sponsorship details can be obtained from Jon Woodcock on: valawards@valonline.org.uk

    Terms and conditions

    1. Nominations will only be accepted until 5pm on 1 October 2021. VAL reserves the right to change this date.
    2. You are only able to nominate an individual or an organisation twice, maximum. (For example you can only nominate for 2 awards).
    3. Nominees will be sorted into the relevant categories by VAL based on the information provided on this page. VAL’s decision on which category a nominee falls into will be final.
    4. Nominated organisations will be asked to provide additional information, which will be given to judges in order to be scored against.
    5. VAL may contact anyone who provides a nomination to ask for more information about the nominee.
    6. VAL reserves the right to have the final say on which nominations will be passed forward to the judging panel and on the award winners.
    7. Current VAL staff and volunteers will not be eligible to receive awards.
    8. Nominees will be asked if they want to be a part of the awards. If nominees do not agree to participate, or do not return the information for the judging panel, they will not be progressed to the judging stage.