The achievements of Merseyside’s unsung community heroes will be celebrated at a new awards ceremony, The Community Impact Awards, launched by the team behind the Be Free Campaign.
The Community Impact Awards 2023 aim to celebrate people who are making a real difference in their communities through charitable contribution and community-focused projects and initiatives. The awards also recognise those that have made a significant contribution to improving mental health and wellbeing across their community.
Nominations are invited from across the Liverpool City Region, and anyone can suggest an individual, community or organisation they believe are making a positive impact. This could be a friend or relative, a work colleague, carer, GP or health professional, or someone representing a company or volunteer group.
The Be Free Campaign launched in Birmingham in 2015 before expanding to Liverpool which is now home to the charity’s HQ. The organisation aims to help people live happier more fulfilling lives by providing them with the tools needed to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
Founded by 22-year-old Shantanu Kundu, the charity works tirelessly to deliver mental health education, counselling, and wellbeing programmes to schools, communities, and businesses across the country, working with policy makers, MPs and leading businesses to ensure people have access to the support they require.
Shantanu Kundu, CEO and Founder of Be Free Campaign, said:
“After an incredibly difficult couple of years for so many due to the pandemic and now the rising cost of living, addressing mental health issues has never been more important.
“That’s why we are really pleased to be launching the Community Impact Awards. We look forward to hearing the positive and inspirational stories from across the region of the fantastic and selfless work people and organisations have done to help others.
“Not only do these awards give us the opportunity to shine a light on unsung heroes that have helped others throughout our region, but they also help highlight the ongoing issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing, and what more needs to be done to address them.”
The Community Impact Awards puts the spotlight on those in the region who have made considerable contribution to the charitable purposes set out by Charity Commission for England and Wales.
This year’s event is supported by a number of industry organisations and sponsors, including business transformation consultancy, TruePotential.
Nominees can nominate more than one individual, team, service, or organisation from across the entire LCR for an award and all nominees will be interviewed by a judge before an awards ceremony in 2023. The ceremony will take place in a Liverpool City Centre venue to be revealed in the near future.
The confirmed award categories are as follows:
The Community Impact Award
The flagship award recognises outstanding community contributions regarding improving one of the charitable outcomes set out by the charity commission.
The Innovation Community Impact Award
Requirements:
– An individual who has influenced the community with innovative methods
– Must have a Merseyside/Cheshire postcode
– Work to have taken place in the last year
The Volunteering and Leadership Community Impact Award
Requirements:
– An individual who has gone above and beyond their work or educational background to impact their community
– Must have a Merseyside/Cheshire postcode
– Work to have taken place in the last year
The Arts and Creativity Community Impact Award
Requirements:
– An individual who has used arts and creative methods to have a positive impact on their community
– Must have a Merseyside/Cheshire postcode
– Work to have taken place in the last year
The Small Charity / Not for Profit Community Impact Award
Requirements:
– Must have a Liverpool postcode/be operating in an area with a Liverpool postcode
– Organisations earning <£100,000 per year
– Organisations must not have a political / religious motivation
The Business Community Impact Award
An award that recognises a Liverpool-based business for their community impact in an area of charitable activity as set out by the charity commission. There is a £100 entry fee for this award.
The Mental Health Changemaker Award
An award highlighted by the founder of the Be Free Campaign.
Requirements:
– An individual who has impacted the mental health of their community through volunteering, work or leadership.
The closing date for nominations is December 31 at 23.59pm.
For more information or sponsor opportunities, or to download the Award Pack, please visit www.befreecampaign.com, or email awards@befreecampaign.org
