This award is intended to recognise the variety and quality of organising activity and NASUWT communications at Local Association level and highlight examples of good practice that can inspire other NASUWT Representatives and activists.

Nominations can include a specific communication or communication strategy developed or an organising activity that has contributed towards building a stronger union. Examples might include activities who have increased member engagement, recruiting and supporting activists, or a specific event or campaign.

Nominations should include:

• a description of the organising activity, communication or strategy;

• the purpose of the activity, communication or strategy;

• details of the target audience, why they were selected and how;

• evidence of how the activity had/is having a positive impact on recruitment or organising;

• information on distribution methods;

• information on whether the communication or organising activity achieved its purpose;

• a description of any resources used (this may include budget, materials, people, etc.);

• any other relevant information.

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This award recognises the work of Local Associations to engage, support and include members from vulnerable and under-represented groups. This includes: Black [1] members; members with a disability; LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) members; women members; and young members.

Nominations should include:

• a description of the campaign;

• confirmation of the desired outcomes and aims for the activity, such as to engage and empower members, build and enhance the NASUWT in a given area, or respond to a specific issue; 

• identification of the target audience;

• the timescales over which the campaign took place;

• a description of the resources used (this may include budget, materials, people, etc.);

• any other relevant information.

Footnote
The NASUWT uses the term Black in a political and inclusive sense to describe those who self-identify as African, Caribbean and Asian identities and those with a common and direct history of racism, racist oppression and diminished opportunities in today’s society.

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Nominations should include:

• a description of what the nominee has achieved in respect of recruitment and workplace organising;

• the impact the nominee has had on recruitment and retention;

• details of any increase in membership or activists;

• information concerning any positive difference made to the teachers within the school or workplace.

Nominations should include:

• details of the most significant achievements in their Representative role;

• information concerning the difference the nominee made for NASUWT members;

• a brief statement on why the nominee became the Workplace Representative;

• details of how the nominee made a positive difference to teachers within the school or workplace.

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Our winners in the category of Best Communication and Organising Activity are the Northern Ireland Officers for their new communication and organising strategy, which resulted in their new NASUWT Northern Ireland magazine called 'Unitas'. 

The Northern Ireland team listened to their members and launched the new magazine, which they use to bring a range of local issues into staff rooms for all our members. 

The Recruitment Committee also wanted to highly commend the work of our Enfield Association in achieving a great turnout in both recent ballots. In the second ballot, they achieved a remarkable association-wide turnout of 69%. This was largely due to the work led by joint local secretary Keith Kilkenny and caseworker Tony Cuffaro.  

Their success is also built on a firm foundation of active workplace reps and regular newsletters for members in schools, tailored to their own school in some way.  

The winner of Best Initiative or Campaign to Engage with Under-represented Groups is Candy Mellor.

Candy is the secretary of North Tyneside association and the chair of our North East equalities committee. 

Candy has gone above and beyond in supporting under-represented groups and individual members, both regionally and nationally, including by organising workshops at regional conferences on subjects including mental health, supporting disabled and LGBTI members and tackling racism. She has also been instrumental in promoting awareness of the menopause and developing regional policies.
 
Candy, thank you for all that you do to promote equality and make sure our Union is truly representative of the teaching profession.

Our Recruiter of the Year is Julian Moody. Julian works across the whole of the Oxfordshire federation as Recruitment Officer.

Julian represents NASUWT at recruitment events, ECT events and training and his services and talents are often called upon across the whole of the south-eastern region.

He makes a point of visiting the schools of all newcomers to Oxfordshire and delivering a welcome pack from Oxfordshire NASUWT. 

Julian has been a member of NASUWT for the last fifty-six years and his devotion to the union is inspiring.

Julian, thank you for a lifetime of commitment to our Union.

The Workplace Representatives of the Year are Kris Tyas and Kerry Haines.

Kris and Kerry led their members tirelessly in a long-running dispute at their schools over pay. 

They held firm in the face of an employer who tried to plead every reason possible for not awarding teachers a significant pay increase. 

In the end, they helped win an award in line with that secured in the state-funded sector. 

Congratulations to both Kris and Kerry and thank you for your work representing the members in your schools.