Nominations are now being invited for the ‘Sport for Change’ category in the 2024 SJA British Sports Awards, sponsored by Altair Ltd.
The prestigious award, which was created in partnership with ConnectSport CIC in 2018, seeks to highlight the amazing work of charities and grassroots organisations using sport and/or physical activity to generate positive 'ESG' outcomes across the UK. These include:
- Environmental: How sport and/or physical activity are supporting climate action in our cities and communities, for example through encouraging active travel; reducing carbon-intensive behaviours and lifestyles; recycling and reduction of single-use plastics;
- Social: How targeted sport-based interventions are addressing key social and economic issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour; education and employment; physical and mental health and wellbeing, and community cohesion.
- Governance: Projects and programmes which are helping to tackle deeply-rooted structural inequalities across sport and society, such as racism and discrimination, gender inequity and homophobia.
ConnectSport is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company which partners with UK Universities to raise awareness and increase investment for local charities and sport for development organisations, which are collectively contributing to globally-recognised Sustainable Development Goals and need more support.
Ashley Broadley, Chair of the Sports Journalists' Association, 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. A panel of national journalists and leading sport executives will form the judging panel for the Award.
To enter, click the link below and complete the online form no later than 5pm on Wednesday 6th November. 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.
To enter, click here and complete the online form no later than 5pm on Wednesday 6th November.
Shortlisted entries for the Sport for Change Award will be announced on the SJA website on Wednesday 20th November, alongside the winners of the other categories who will be unveiled live on Sky Sports.
The shortlist will then be invited to a special Parliamentary reception on Monday 9th December, when the overall winner will be announced. The reception will be attended by other award winners including athletes and sports teams.
SJA Sport for Change Award – Past Winners
2018: The Wave Project
2019: Salaam Peace (pictured above receiving their award from Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth)
2020: Marcus Rashford, Lou Macari, Ebony Rainford-Brent and Dons Action Group
2021: The London Marathon
2022: Panathlon Challenge
2023: Tackle
The entry deadline for the 2024 Sport for Change Award is Wednesday 6th November (5pm GMT). If you have any questions or queries, please contact james@s2fevents.co.uk
