Nominations are being invited for the ‘Sport for Change’ category at the 2023 British Sports Awards, co-ordinated by the Sports Journalists' Association.
Panathlon Challenge, a grassroots charity established to offer competitive sporting opportunities to young disabled people, won the award last year. The Coalition's Executive Director Hitesh Patel is pictured below presenting the award.
The award, which has been supported by the Sport for Development Coalition since 2018, aims to highlight the amazing work of organisations across the UK that are using sport and/or physical activity to create a positive impact on local communities and individuals in need. These can be nationwide, or at local, grassroots level.
The award recognises the growing influence of the sport for development sector, which includes professional club foundations, charities, sports governing bodies, public sector and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
These organisations are addressing a wide range of important social, environmental and economic issues such as crime and unemployment, physical and mental health and wellbeing, climate change, and social inequality and discrimination.
SJA chair Ashley Broadley, said: “It is really important that these awards continue to recognise the brilliant work that is being done by organisations and individuals using sport to create a positive impact.”
Organisations, both inside and outside of sport, are now being invited to submit their applications for the award, which will be judged by a panel of experts on the following criteria:
- Impact and reach
- Scale and difficulty of the issue being tackled
- Longevity and sustainability of the project
- Resourcefulness and dedication of staff, coaches and volunteers
- Innovation and/or collaboration
- Monitoring and evaluation, including clarity and transparency around impact reporting
Applicants must provide an overview of no more than 300 words describing their project or ongoing work, plus a 200-word case study demonstrating the impact of the programme, for example on a specific individual or community.
To enter, complete the online form no later than 5pm on Tuesday 31st October. Make sure you include the name of the project and/or organisation and provide contact details, including name of contact, telephone, email, website and social media handles.
Shortlisted organisations will be invited to attend the SJA British Sports Awards ceremony which will be held in London at the Kia Oval on December 7.
SJA Sport for Change award – past winners
- 2018: The Wave Project
- 2019: Salaam Peace
- 2020: Marcus Rashford, Lou Macari, Ebony Rainford-Brent and Dons Action Group
- 2021: The London Marathon
- 2022: Panathlon Challenge
The entry deadline for 2023 is Tuesday 31st October. If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected].
