Deafblind makes the shortlist for annual Charity Awards for innovative schools project
Sight and hearing loss charity Deafblind UK has announced that it has made the shortlist for this year’s Charity Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector.
Deafblind UK has been shortlisted in the Disability category for its schools project, which aims to help teachers and fellow students understand the challenges that young people living with deafblindness face.
The Charity Awards is the sector’s most highly-regarded excellence recognition scheme. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in leadership and management, from which other organisations can learn.
The schools project, led by former teacher Carolyn Greig, set out to investigate the provision of support for deafblind children in mainstream education. Following the results of this research, Deafblind UK produced a set of resources to help teachers and students understand deafblindness, and to feel more confident in supporting pupils with sensory loss.
The resources, called ‘Lesson in a Box: Discovering Deafblindness’ include interactive lesson plans and assemblies which span the curriculum of key stages 2, 3 and 4 and have been delivered to over 1600 schools across the country.
Nikki Morris, CEO of Deafblind UK said: “At Deafblind UK, we are passionate about educating others about deafblindness to ensure that every child has access to a meaningful education, regardless of sight and hearing loss. We are extremely proud that our schools project has been shortlisted for this award, as it recognises how vitally important education around deafblindness is.”
The 10 category winners, plus the recipients of the Overall Award for Excellence and the Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement, will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Tuesday 9 July, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The evening will be hosted by broadcaster and commentator Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, who will be joined on the night by a host of celebrities, representatives of the shortlisted charities, as well as leaders from Britain’s best known and best loved charities.
Matthew Nolan, chief executive of Civil Society Media which organises the Charity Awards, congratulated Deafblind UK on making the highly-coveted shortlist. He said: “Every year we are astounded and inspired by the breadth and depth of work going on across the UK’s wonderful charity sector. But this year in particular we have noticed a real improvement in the professionalism of the entries, signalling that charities are more cognisant than ever of the need for good governance, strong leadership and effective management.
“Everything that we do at Civil Society Media aims to help charities have greater impact, and for the last 23 years the Charity Awards has identified and celebrated the sector’s great work. Congratulations to all the charities on this year’s shortlist; in a year of record entries you ought to be very proud of getting this far.”
Peter Hugh Smith, chief executive at CCLA, Overall Partner of the Charity Awards, said: “Every year the Charity Awards serve as a moment for the sector to reflect and acknowledge the transformative power of compassion, determination and resilience. The awards amplify the voices of those making a difference, inspiring others to join in creating positive change.
“We’re honoured to renew our role as the Charity Awards’ Overall Partner, championing the remarkable efforts of charities, large and small, right across the UK.”
