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Third Sector Excellence Awards: We cogitated and came up with this shortlist..

By Stephen Cook, Editor, Third Sector, Third Sector, 15 October 2008

As you contemplate in advance the judging of voluntary sector awards, it sometimes seems like a daunting task - mountains of paper to climb and agonising judgements to make. But when the big day comes and the judges assemble in a room, all the apprehension seems to fall away and a certain excitement takes over.

That's what happened last month when the 23 experts who had kindly agreed to judge the Third Sector Excellence Awards assembled in the boardroom of Haymarket Publishing. There was an atmosphere of camaraderie as they settled down in groups to consider the record number of more than 400 entries in 20 categories.

They compared notes, paced the room and occasionally got stuck into some lively disagreement. Voices were raised from time to time, and at least one pen was flung down on the table for emphasis. One group was still hard at it at closing time and seemed set to go on into the night.

"I enjoyed it," said one tired but happy participant at the end of the day. "You always learn something at these events." Others confirmed that the great majority of the entries had reminded them of the abiding creativity and innovation of charities and voluntary organisations.

The judges' scoring was analysed to produce the shortlists we publish today - more than 90 examples of outstanding campaigns and projects that are in the running to be declared winners or highly commended.

The next stage is the prestigious awards night dinner at the Hurlingham Club in London on Tuesday 18 November. We hope you will be able to come and enjoy a convivial evening, celebrate the achievements of the sector and watch the winners receive their prizes.

THE FINALISTS
Communications, marketing and campaigning
Annual report
- Action for Blind People
- Cats Protection
- EveryChild
- Excellent Development
- Football Foundation
- United Response

Brand Development
- Alzheimer's Society
- Environmental Protection UK
- Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Mencap
- Trafford Housing Trust

Use of Digital Media
- Beat (Beating Eating Disorders)
- Beatbullying
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Missing People
- National Union of Students

Website
- Crimestoppers
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Mencap
- School Governors' One-Stop Shop
- UnLtdWorld

Communications Campaign
- Help the Aged
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Prostate Cancer Research Foundation
- Sustrans
- Teenage Cancer Trust
- War on Want

Communications Team
- Beatbullying
- British Red Cross
- Scout Association

Fundraising
Direct Marketing Campaign
- British Red Cross
- DMS, the Direct Marketing Group
- Jewish Care
- South Yorkshire Community Foundation
- Women Like Us

Fundraising Event
- Institute of Cancer Research
- St Joseph's Hospice
- Save the Children UK
- Scope and Capability Scotland
- VSO
- Youth - The Funding Network

Fundraising Team
- British Red Cross
- The Fire Fighters Charity
- Raffle and Rags Team - Mary's Meals
- South Yorkshire Community Foundation

Finance
Finance Team
- Crisis UK
- South Yorkshire Community Foundation

Innovation in Grant Making
- Elizabeth Finn Care
- Church Urban Fund

Enterprise
- Broadway Homelessness and Support
- Global Action Plan
- The Grandparents Association
- YouthNet

Partnerships
Charity Partnership
- Broadway Homelessness and Support
- Chance UK
- Kent Union
- Liverpool Personal Service Society
- Together Women
- YouthNet

Corporate Partnership
- Asthma UK
- Help the Hospices
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Riding for the Disabled Association
- TreeHouse
- Ulster Cancer Foundation

Public Sector Partnership
- Battersea Arts Centre
- Gloucestershire Rural Community Council - Village Agents
- MacIntyre

At Work
Best Employer
- Beatbullying
- Broadway Homelessness and Support
- Kent Union
- Phoenix Futures
- Trafford Housing Trust
- United Response

Employee Innovation
- Global Action Plan
- Mind in Croydon
- Save the Children UK
- South Yorkshire Community Foundation

Volunteer of the Year
- Neville Ball, After Adoption
- Harry and Carol Montagu, Elizabeth Finn Homes
- Dave Heeley, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
- Richard Fisher, Jewish Care
- Martin Anderson, Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Said Rahim, Refugee Council

Governance
Most Improved Trustee Board
- Mind
- Missing People

Accountability and Transparency
- Kent Union
- Multiple Sclerosis Society
- School Governors' One-Stop Shop
- Zurich Community Trust

Third Sector Awards
The Luke FitzHerbert Lifetime Achievement Award
- Winner to be announced on the night

Small Charity, Big Achiever
- Community Money Advice
- The Ear Foundation
- FairPensions
- Storybook Dads
- Streetwise Opera
- Theodora Children's Trust

The Big Impact Award
- Alzheimer's Society
- Help the Aged
- Leonard Cheshire Disability
- Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Royal British Legion
- Women Like Us

THE JUDGES

Communications, marketing and campaigning Sue Fidler, charity IT consultant Ian Leggett, director, People and Planet Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, chair, Office of the Third Sector advisory board John Palmer, director of marketing and communications, Scout Association Dean Russell, head of digital marketing, Precedent Communications Chris Stalker, freelance consultant Mike Wade, director of fundraising and communications, National Deaf Children's Society

Fundraising Mike Barnes, director of marketing and business development, Direct Marketing Association Eric Grounds, director of fundraising, Sue Ryder Care Finance Dawn Austwick, director, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Harriett Baldwin, deputy chair, Futurebuilders England Rohan Hewavisenti, director of finance and business development, British Red Cross Colin Nee, chief executive, Charities Evaluation Services Partnerships Simon Blake, chief executive, Brook John Graham, finance director, Royal British Legion Deborah Scott, corporate partnerships executive, RNIB

At Work Peter Atfield, HR director, Clic Sargent John Burnell, director, Personnel Solutions David Gold, chief executive, ProspectUs Elaine Willis, consultant

Governance Rodney Buse, chair, Charity Trustee Networks David Carrington, consultant Penny Chapman, partner and head of charities, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP

Third Sector Awards Judged by the editor and staff of Third Sector

THE AWARDS NIGHT

Venue

The awards will take place on Tuesday 18 November at the Hurlingham Club, Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6

Ticket bookings

To book individual tickets or a table for 10 people, contact Steven Lewis, 020 8267 4042, steven.lewis@haymarket.com

Sponsorship

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Francesca Nieuwenhuys, 020 8267 4951, francesca.nieuwenhuys@haymarket.com

The Third Sector Excellence Awards 2009

If you would like to receive an entry pack for next year's awards as soon as it is available, please send your contact details to Tristan Donovan, tristan.donovan@haymarket.com

Website

For more information, go to www.thirdsectorexcellenceawards.com

LAST YEAR'S EVENT

'We thoroughly enjoyed the venue, entertainment, networking opportunities and the food. The fact that we won an award also made a difference'

Rob Cope, deputy director of marketing and communications, the Prince's Trust, Best Communications Team, TSEA 2007

'We were delighted to win last year. Smooth-running financial processes are vital to our success, and it was fantastic to be recognised for all our hard work'

Andy Munro, executive director of resources, Terrence Higgins Trust, Best Finance Team, TSEA 2007

'The award was a major recognition of our team. It's raised awareness of our client profile and helped to open doors'

Stephen Leach, team leader, the Relationships Centre, Small Charity, Big Achiever, TSEA 2007

'It's been brilliant. Our young people were so proud of winning the award. It really spurred them on'

Jill Arkley-Jevons, project coordinator, Dearne Valley Venture, Best Fundraising Event, TSEA 2007.