Entry Requirements

Please note that the 2012 Awards are now closed. But we have left information on the judging criteria so you can get a head start for 2013!

1. In your Entry Form, please show how your work satisfies as many of the above criteria as you can.
2. Entries can include details of environmental improvements that have been undertaken between 1st February 2010 to 31st October 2011.
3. Deadline for entries is 31st January 2012.
4. Short-listing will take place during February 2012. Short-listed entrants for each category will be invited to attend the awards' ceremony to be held at he Civic Ball on Friday 27th April 2012.

Category One

• Businesses
• Children & Young People
• Partnerships & Community Groups
• Schools

Please provide information using the following criteria to support your application in no more than 1000 words. Photographs, videos/dvds, etc can be included. There is no entry fee.

• Environmental benefit. Your entry should clearly identify the environmental benefits of your actions, particularly where they may be linked to the aims of the Green Footprints Challenge.
• Social benefit. Have local communities benefited; if so how?
• Economic benefit. Have there been any financial benefits to your actions, if so what are they?
• Quantitative evidence of impact. Can you measure any of the environmental, social or economic benefits? Eg. Amount of energy reduced; number of bags of litter collected; money saved; number of local people who took part; number of miles saved; reduction in carbon emissions, etc.
• Qualitative evidence of impact. Can you provide other infromation that helps tell your story? Eg. How pupils' behaviour changed; anecdotal support from local residents; what your staff thought of the project; results of a survey; direct quotes from people who took part, etc.
• Innovation. Does your entry demonstrate new / novel ideas or solutions?
• Future further development plans. How do you intend to build on your success?
• Possible adoption by others. Do you think your ideas could help others to make a difference in their community?

Category Two

• Sustainable Urban Design

For further information contact Stefan Kruczkowski on 01530 454768 or email stefan.kruczkowski@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

How will the awards be judged?

Top Tips for Writing your application

Here are just a few pointers from the judges to help you fill in your application.

• Before you start your application, get together with other members of your group, school or team and make a list of all the things you‘ve achieved during the timeframe stated. If you haven‘t mentioned it on your application we can‘t count it! Don‘t forget things like accreditation (ISO14001, eco-schools status, tourism awards, etc) and community support.
• Get started early so you‘ve got plenty of time to check with other members of your group, school or business for extra inspiration that will make your application stand out.
• Please provide us with information for each of the criteria; a set number of marks are given for each of these so the more you can evidence the more successful you‘ll be.
• Can you measure what you‘ve achieved? It might be difficult for you to measure tonnes of CO2 saved, but can you show evidence of energy reduced, money saved, bags of litter collected, etc?
• Don‘t forget to let us know what you have learned from doing your project that others could benefit from.
• The best applications are the ones that make a story come alive. So include quotes and anecdotal evidence about what this project has meant to your community, school or business.
• Above all, have fun with your application.