CHANGEit Awards » Uncategorized

Play2Give – Where are they now?

CHANGEit — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:37:42 +0000

Andrew accepting his 2007 Spotlight award from Ben Shephard, TV presenter, and Graham Hodgkin, Managing Director, Country/Corporate Banking Coverage Head (UK & Ireland) at Deutsche Bank

Andrew was a finalist in the Spotlight awards in 2007 for his fundraising activity for the Oxford Children’s Hospital (CHOX). He began his campaign in 2002 by getting students in his school involved and by 2007 he had raised more than £13,000 in funds for CHOX. Early on he set himself a goal of raising more than £20,000 so over the last few years, he has continued his campaign by putting on Play2Give, an annual 6-a-side football tournament. Now 21, Andrew has raised over £25,580 for charity.

CHANGEit, the awards Common Purpose and Deutsche Bank developed from Spotlight, are thrilled to see Andrew’s dedication and commitment to fundraising. He is passionate about supporting CHOX so that thousands of children can receive the care they need. He’s a perfect example of what you can achieve if you set your mind to something – and just keep going!

If you’re near the Oxford area and would like to support Andrew’s campaign, he is hosting a Play2Give celebration on Saturday 26 September near Abingdon. Read the Special Effect article or email play2give@hotmail.com for more information.

Keep up the great work Andrew!

It’s About Time more young people were on public boards

CHANGEit — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:09:32 +0000

Did you know the average age of an appointee to a national board is between 55 and 65? Hardly representative of the general public! That’s why Common Purpose and the Anchor Trust are running the new About Time campaign. About time aims to increase the numbers and diversity of those applying for an holding public appointments, by overcoming the barriers that get in the way of participation. Effective boards need more and more people to get involved, with different backgrounds, experiences and opinions. Why should the decisions that affect everyone be made by people who don’t remember what it’s like to be a young person?

If you are already active in your local communities – perhaps as a student representative, or a trustee of a local charity, or on your local residents association committee, the About Time programme can help you consider your next steps in your public life career. The programme is specially designed to help with the transition from local appointment, to a regional or national one. You’ll be introduced to senior board members, the principles of good governance and their practical application, and have an opportunity to reflect on your own strengths and motivations to make sure you can make the best contribution to public life. The programme is also a great development opportunity, with skills workshops to ensure you’re a more effective board member, and advice and help on the application process and techniques.

Placements on the training sessions are fully funded by the Anchor Trust. For more information, or to download an application form visit the About Time website.

There are still a few places left for the first programme on 12 & 13 November 2009, but be quick!

The Big Lunch Young Film-Maker’s Competition

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:14:38 +0000

Have you heard of The Big Lunch? It’s a new Eden Project initiative that aims to get as many people as possible having lunch with their neighbours on Sunday 19th July, as a simple act of community.
The Big Lunch has launched a Young Film-Maker’s Competition in association with v – The National Young Volunteering Service, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, Shooting People and BOOM!

Turn your neighbours into actors and tell the story of your street. Make a short film about local life before, during and after The Big Lunch. That’s the brief, staring you in the face, with a big fat juicy £1000 carrot if you win. If you are not already involved in a Big Lunch, you can join another lunch taking place in your local area. To find your nearest Big Lunch, check out our interactive map at www.thebiglunch.com and make contact with the organiser to see if you can go along on the day with your camera.

Need help with the plot? Ask yourself: How neighbourly is my hood? Who knows who? Who feels alone? Who holds the fabric of our street together? What magic lurks untapped? Who can play the ukelele? Who grows smutty veg? Who has seen war in the flesh? What are the tough issues? How big is my cast? Am I in it? Who might make a fascinating study? Will they trust me and open up as the best films do?

Film (like smoked salmon) is cheap now. Still, it costs, so stay lo-fi if you can. Content over style please. Make your film about people, knowing your neighbours, and how they gel on epic days like The Big Lunch. If you’re broke, plea for funds.

Here are the specifics:

Open to: 16-25 yr olds (but it can star any age, the wider the better)
Length: 6 mins max
Format: DVD in one of these: MP4 (ipod/psp), MPEG, FLV (adobe flash), MOV (mac), AVI (windows), SWF (shockwave flash), MKV (h.264)
Deadline: September 1st 2009
Music: Be smart – this might end up on C4, so don’t abuse copyright. Get a pal to mash up a mix, or try open source music at: creativecommons.org, magnatune.com, royaltyfreemusic.com
Judges: They know their onions. They’ve made movies. They’re looking for talent. No pressure, but aim high and make the biggest, boldest, best short film you can.
Prize: £1000 for the winner (go on; split it with your neighbour). £150 cash to most loved by Joe Public on Big Lunch TV.
Screening: Winner on C4 with luck. “Best Of” screenings in central London – let you know the venue nearer the time.

For further info, to read the briefing and for Terms and Conditions visit The Big Lunch website.

Last week to submit a CHANGEit nomination!

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:23:34 +0000

Do you know a young person who has made a difference in their local area?
Does a young person you know have an idea to change their community?

The deadline for CHANGEit nominations for the 2008/09 award period is fast approaching so nominate them for a CHANGEit award today!

CHANGEit will award prizes of up to £750 in three categories:

Innovation – for young people who have ideas to improve their community, but need training or support to get their campaign off the ground
Performance – to celebrate the achievements of young campaigners who have already made a difference in their local areas.
Photography– photos taken by young people that show campaigning in action or the change happening around them

The closing date is 12 January 2009 – so nominate today! Nominations can be submitted for individuals or groups. Every young person nominated will receive a certificate of recognition. Winners will be announced at an award ceremony in spring 2009.

Nominate now!