Nominations sought for RNIB See Differently Awards
Awards event launched to recognise and celebrate outstanding work to support people with sight loss
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has opened nominations for its exciting new awards event. The awards will recognise and celebrate the people dedicating their time, passion and skills to changing the world for blind and partially sighted people.
The RNIB See Differently awards aim to shine a spotlight on the excellent work happening every day across the UK to support people with sight loss. They will highlight the contributions being made to break down barriers, and reward those creating opportunities that enable blind and partially sighted people to live the life they want to lead.
Nominations are now being sought and the award winners will be announced at a ceremony which will take place at the Glaziers Hall, London Bridge on 26 November 2019.
RNIB CEO Matt Stringer said: “We know that there are many people doing amazing work to break down barriers and make the world more inclusive for people with sight loss. RNIB wants to recognise this work and the See Differently awards will celebrate those who dedicate their time, passion and skills to changing the world for blind and partially sighted people.”
The RNIB See Differently awards will recognise exceptional individuals and teams across six categories: Campaigner of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Community Contributor of the Year, Social Media Influencer of the Year, Team of the Year and Employer of the Year.
To be eligible for an RNIB See Differently award you must have created, led or campaigned on something that has improved or enriched the life of someone with sight loss. You can either nominate yourself or be nominated by someone else. Download eligibility criteria and terms and conditions at https://www.rnib.org.uk/our-campaigns/rnib-see-differently-awards/
Completed entries must be submitted by midnight on 13 September 2019. Nominations will be judged by a distinguished panel of influencers and sector leaders.
If you have any questions, require help completing the nomination form or would like to receive the form in an alternative format, please email [email protected]
Notes to editors
All media enquiries to Cianna McNally at 0207 3912 082 or [email protected]. For urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.
Entries to the See Differently Awards include:
Campaigner of the Year Award
This award recognises an individual who has shown great commitment to successfully campaigning on an issue(s) that affect people who are blind or partially sighted, or that aims to raise awareness to prevent sight loss. Entrants will need to show the impact of the campaign and how they achieved great results.
Innovator of the Year Award
This award will be presented to an individual or organisation that has demonstrated and applied a new product, technology, or service which has significantly benefited people who are blind or partially sighted. Entrants will need to demonstrate how they developed the concept and outline how their innovation has improved the lives of people with sight loss.
Community Contributor of the Year Award
Recognising the heroes of the sight loss community this award is for someone who has had a life changing impact on the nominator, another individual or their local community. They consistently dedicate themselves to improving opportunities for people with sight loss and have achieved incredible results through their work or volunteering.
Social Media Influencer of the Year Award
This award recognises someone who has used social media to break down the barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people or to promote and galvanise support for a social issue affecting the sight loss community. The winning entry will have encouraged and achieved meaningful audience discussion, demonstrated creativity to drive community involvement and improved reach, impact and sustained participation across social media channels.
Team of the Year Award
This award seeks to recognise and reward a team that has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people who are blind or partially sighted. Entrants from the eye health and sight loss sectors should demonstrate excellent teamwork, direction, leadership, collaboration, and achievement.
Employer of the Year Award
The Employer of the Year Award recognises employers in retaining and recruiting blind or partially sighted people to their organisation. The winner of this award will demonstrate positive employer attitudes and be able to evidence supportive policies and practices that create the space for the broad range of skills and talent held by blind and partially sighted people to be brought to the workplace.
About RNIB
We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.
RNIB. See differently. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk