First-time prize fund and judges announced for London’s Sustainable City Awards.
- The Sustainable City Awards returns for 2021 and are open for nominations for individuals, schools, local authorities, and businesses until 25 February.
- This year, the awards will celebrate London’s unsung sustainability heroes who have used the Covid-19 pandemic to champion sustainability as well as advancing racial, social and environmental justice.
- Partnered with the Mayor of London and LEDNet (London Environment Directors’ Network), the awards are open to nominations for schools, public sector, community and voluntary groups as well as ‘changemaker’ individuals.
- For the first time, the winners of four categories in the schools and voluntary & community sector will receive a total of £10,000 funding which is sponsored by Investec.
- The line-up of a cross-sector panel of 36 judges has also been released.
Global Action Plan, the charity which now co-ordinates the Sustainable City Awards, has announced the judges line up and for the first time, a contribution of £10,000 funding.
Now in its 20th year, the Sustainable City Awards celebrates London’s unsung sustainability heroes. This year, the winners will be announced at a virtual award ceremony in Spring 2021 and the first-time funding will enable the winning school, and voluntary & community sector organisation to continue their activities.
Working with the award’s partners the Mayor of London and LEDNet (London Environment Directors’ Network), the 2021 awards are looking to celebrate the inspirational ways in which schools, local authorities and voluntary organisations in London have turned the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity to build back better. This includes looking to celebrate and amplify great examples of action led or involving culturally diverse and under-privileged communities to advance racial, social and environmental justice.
The 36 confirmed judges will determine winners across six categories such as London’s Sustainable School of the Year, School Changemaker of the Year and Trailblazing organisation of the Year, include:
- Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder of the Ella Roberta Foundation
- Clover Hogan, youth activist, eco-anxiety researcher & founder of the Force of Nature
- Nick Martin, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Management at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
- Prof Sarah Bell, Honorary Professor Bartlett School Env, Energy & Resources at UCL
- Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member, Councillor Highbury East ward, Islington and Green Party Transport Spokesperson
- Jennette Arnold, OBE GAP Trustee & London Assembly Member
For the first time, the awards will be giving a prize fund of £10,000 to be shared amongst the winners. The fund has been sponsored by international financial solutions provider, Investec.
Nominations for the Sustainable City Awards are quick and easy and can be made online.
Gail Freeman, Development Director at Global Action Plan, says:
“As hosts of the awards for the first time, Global Action Plan are proud to be celebrating the unsung sustainability heroes at work in our Capital. Despite the scale of suffering experienced over the last year, 2021 and beyond will provide a unique opportunity to reset what we want to return to. Whilst the pandemic is not over yet, we want to shine a light on those who turned hardship into an opportunity for change and are creating a better London. Along with our judges, we are incredibly excited to find out about all the impressive initiatives taking place across the city.”
Jennette Arnold OBE Trustee & London Assembly Member, says:
“So many organisations and individuals across the capital have shown resilience and imagination in these unprecedented times to make their schools, organisations or communities more sustainable. As a judge of the Sustainable City Awards, I’m proud to be part of a process that recognises these successes and the commitment of Londoners to improving life for others during such a difficult year.”
Teresa O’Brien, Head of Sustainability UK, Investec says
“We are proud to sponsor this year’s Sustainable City Awards and offer a more-than-deserved prize to those driving forward sustainability in London. The actions of individuals and organisations can truly make a difference, even over the last gruelling year. These awards offer a platform to showcase some of the most inspirational work happening around our Capital.”
Visit the awards site and make nominations at: https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/sustainable-city-awards
