Big Society Award

The award was focussed on three areas:

• "outstanding contribution to community"
• "improving lives and society through innovation, collaboration and new partnerships"
• "engaging in social action"

Recipients

• FoodCycle, January 2011, for creating "an opportunity for young people to volunteer and learn new skills while helping others in their community".

• The Old Vic Tunnels, February 2011, for "offering opportunities for young people to gain experience in production and be part of an innovative and diverse arts venue".
• Mitzvah Day, November 2011, for "inspiring people to come together on one day and do something positive for their community".
• Gateway 97.8 (a local community radio station in Basildon Essex), December 2011, for helping "students and unemployed people … gain valuable skills to gain employment" and providing "valuable support for local charities".
• Waitrose, January 2012, "for its Community Matters Scheme which… allows shoppers to choose three charitable causes each month to receive a £1,000 donation from their store".
• Social media surgery, February 2012, for having "shared their time and expertise to help so many local groups make the most of the internet".
• AFC Wimbledon (a community-owned and run social enterprise football club), March 2012, for having "united a community, given them the chance to have a real stake in their club’s future and made a huge difference to the lives of many people in the area".
• Street Angels, June 2012, for working "hand in hand with their local services to make their towns, estates and streets safer places".
• Hethersett village, March 2013, for working "to improve residents' fitness and wellbeing and local facilities to keep the Olympic legacy alive".
• City Gateway, July 2012, for working "to help local women and young people gain the skills needed to progress into work".
• London 2012 Games Makers, November 2012, recognised the huge contribution made by London 2012 volunteers, including more than 70,000 Games Makers and Host City volunteers, by presenting them with a Big Society Award. This is the 50th award given to individuals or groups who help to build a bigger, stronger society.
• The Lightbox, December 2012, for setting up and running a charity museum and gallery in Woking, Surrey.
• PATHS, June 2013, for supporting homeless services in Oxfordshire.
• Mosaic Network, July 2013, for "offering mentoring to young people in some of the most deprived areas of the country, while boosting and encouraging volunteering".
• Herne Hill Velodrome, August 2013, for working to save a 1948 Olympic cycle track.
• British Paraorchestra, September 2013, for "providing opportunities, challenging perceptions and entertaining audiences".
• Fair Finance, October 2013, for supporting "200 London businesses to access the finance they need to get started or grow".
• Everton in the Community, November 2013, "for activities about employment, education and health".
• UK Fire and Rescue Service, July 2014, "for its ground-breaking work with young people to educate about fire prevention and tackle anti-social behaviour."
• Spacehive, November 2014, "for helping local communities to fund neighbourhood improvement projects online."
• Body & Soul, December 2014, for their "work to support people living with HIV, their friends and their families".
• Creation Development Trust, December 2011, for their work "people working to help their own community deliver the improvements they want to see"