In January 2024, charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire will be rewarded for their hard work in local communities.
The Totally Stoked Awards 2024 is a celebration of the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Together with local partners and sponsors, VAST will be presenting awards to some of the most dedicated charities, voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises—across nine categories—in recognition of their commitment to the people in local communities.
Launched in 2020, Totally Stoked is a project of VAST that provides essential support to local VCSE groups working on the ground in local communities; Stoke-on-Trent’s answer to developing the local sector in the most sustainable way, because “everyone has something to give.”
From the COVID-19 pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis, the voluntary sector has been a lifeline, especially for vulnerable or isolated people living in the area. Through these awards, VAST, sector leaders, and awards sponsors can recognise and celebrate the huge contribution voluntary organisations have made to local communities and those in need.
“The voluntary sector and those working and volunteering in our communities have never been more needed, and we want to recognise that,” said Natalie Hawkins, Support and Volunteering Projects Manager at VAST.
“The work these groups do to in our communities to improve lives and provide essential support to vulnerable people has been invaluable. They do it because it’s their passion and they care about the people they serve, so it’s about time we celebrated that and reward them for their commitment.”
Nominations for these awards are open until Wednesday 3rd January 2024 and nominations can be submitted here. There are nine award categories for people to make their nominations:
- Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project Award
- Best Collaborative Project Award
- Breakthrough Award: Organisation
- Breakthrough Award: Project
- Steps to Sustainability Award
- InVOLve Award
- Community Champion Award
- Biggest Giver Award
- Biggest Impact Award
Each category will have five nominees shortlisted by a panel of judges from across the sector including VAST, Support Staffordshire, the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and awards sponsors. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on the evening of Tuesday 23rd January 2024 at Stoke City Football Club, Stoke-on-Trent. Winners will be presented with a specially made award trophy and a certificate to celebrate their remarkable achievement.
As part of the awards, there will be a series of daytime workshops for local voluntary sector organisations hosted by VAST, dDeaflinks, SSE, and Chatty Duck.
For more information on Totally Stoked Awards, please visit https://vast.org.uk/totally-stoked-awards-2024/.
