Businesses and residents across Staffordshire are being encouraged to help recognise community heroes by supporting the 10th annual National Insight Awards.
Ran by award-winning social enterprise Expert Citizens CIC, the event honours exceptional people and organisations that used lived experience of social issues to drive improvement in communities across the country.
The event’s four categories – welcoming, listening, learning and leading – mirror the quality marks for lived experience involvement that Expert Citizens developed from their base in Stoke-on-Trent.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Darren Murinas, CEO at Expert Citizens said: “We’re incredibly proud to be celebrating ten years of the National Insight Awards. A decade of recognising the power of lived experience to strengthen communities across the UK.
“The awards clearly mean a great deal to the nominees, and it’s always a joy to welcome so many inspiring people to the event. As we mark this milestone, I’d love to connect with sponsors who share our vision, celebrating those who welcome, listen, learn, and lead in amplifying the voices too often unheard in our society.”
Each year, the event attracts around 200 delegates to University of Staffordshire’s Catalyst Building and features keynote speeches and performances from leaders with lived experience of challenging social issues such as homelessness, mental ill-health, addiction, domestic abuse, or the justice and care systems.
Previous speakers include Lemn Sissay MBE, a nationally celebrated poet and broadcaster, who spoke about his experience of the care system.
This year’s event will take place on 26 November.
Nominations are welcomed from people and organisations in the community, voluntary, public and private sectors and can be made via the Expert Citizens website.
The deadline for nominations is Sunday, 31 August.
