Dragon Awards

How to Apply Workshop

11 June 2009

Overview

•What you want from this morning?•Why apply for an Award?•What work Qualifies?•Applying for an Award•What happens next?•Questions

What do you want from this morning?Think of two things you hope to get out of the session

Discuss what you have written with your table

Report back to the one thing that your table feel you must learn today

Why Apply for an Award?

External Recognition•National and local press coverage•Profile within CCI and CSR networks•Profile with current and potential clients or customers•Profile with community partners

Internal Recognition•Senior Management•Staff and volunteers

Other•Dragon Statuette•Invitation to annual dinner•It is free!

Award Categories

•Education Award

•Economic Regeneration Award

•Social Inclusion Award

•Heart of the City Award

•Lord Mayor’s Award

•Volunteer of the Year Award

What Qualifies for an Award?•Activities that are above and beyond the core business of the applying organisation

•Activities that have an impact on the community

•Activities that are already running; that are beyond the planning stage

•Activities taking place in London

Examples

A London borough maintains a park that lies within the boundaries of the borough.

The borough council have just built a new playground in the park that is open to the public free of charge.

Does this work qualify?

Examples

A London borough maintains a park that lies within the boundaries of the borough.

The borough council runs a weekly gardening club for ex-offenders to come and work in the garden.

Does this work qualify?

Examples

A football club has a community charity trust that is funded by the football club.

The footballers work with the trust on a project looking to decrease knife crime in the local area.

Does this work qualify?

Examples

A law firm runs a pro bono service at a local community centre on a Tuesday night.

The firm state that all trainee lawyers have to work a set number of hours a year on pro bono work at the centre.

Does this work qualify?

Examples

A housing association provides housing for those excluded from the housing market.

They have a successful scheme at one of their sites which assists older people with their weekly shopping.

Does this work qualify?

Application Forms

www.dragonawards.org.uk

Application Forms

www.dragonawards.org.uk

Application Forms

www.dragonawards.org.uk

Application Forms

www.dragonawards.org.uk

Tips for filling in the form

•Read the Guidance Notes

•Explain why the programme is needed and the difference it has made

•Be explicit about what your organisation actually does

•Keep your answers to the point

•Answer every question

•Judges will only look at information on the application form

Filling in the application form Question 3 – Community Benefits

The difference your work has made to the community

3a)Quantative

- Try and use statistics

3b)Qualitative

- Quotes from community partners or service users

Filling in the application formQuestion 4 – Business Benefits

Benefits to your staff and organisation

4a)Quantative

-Try and use statistics

-Don’t worry if you don’t have any

4b)Qualitative

- Any feedback or quotes you from volunteers or clients

Filling in the application formQuestion 7 – Why should you win this Award?

- Showcase the best of your project or programme

- Talk about why it is unique

- Refer to challenges you have overcome

A ‘Bad’ Example

Look at the example and see what you think would have made it stronger.

The voice of experience!

Ama Afrifa-Kyei

Deloitte

Social Inclusion Award Winner 2008

What the judges say

The application left me

without a sense of what the

business actually does with

the school.

This looks like a

great project, but it

is still in too early

stages to judge.

They should

definitely apply

again next year.The application is really strong,

but it doesn’t clearly show what

parts of the project are in London.

What the judges say

It seems as though

this scheme is only

supported by a few

members of the

organisation.

The application didn’t stand out from the other projects for

me. It needed something to make it more exciting.

The business seemed to have a

great programme in place, but I

was left wondering how useful it

actually is to the community

organisations.

What happens next?

Deadline: Monday 5pm on 20 July

Shortlist announced on 18 August

Filming for shortlisted applicants

Final Judging panel

Annual Dinner

15 October, The Mansion House

Annual Dinner

Thursday 15 October

Contact Details

Telephone: 020 7332 3608

Email: dragonawards@cityoflondon.gov.uk