2012 Award Finalists

Scroll down to see 21 very special projects that have been selected as this year's finalists by members of the public.

Arts
Education
Environment
Health
Heritage
Sports
Voluntary
Milliennial

Arts

Achieving Something Special The Achieving Something Special project in Northern Ireland, provides a creative space for adults with learning disabilities to work in, showcasing their creative arts talents.	Drumatik Drumatik is an inclusive community drumming group based in the regeneration area of West Fife, Scotland	Inclusion Through Practice Razed Roof is an inclusive performing arts group for people with and without learning disabilities. Its members work together to put on shows and develop a wide range of skills. This project ran workshops for people with severe learning disabilities and others, leading up to a production of Billy Elliot.	mac Birmingham The new mac (Midlands Arts Centre) is a complete renovation of the old building that was no longer up to standard. The fully accessible arts centre is a renovation of the old centre, combined with new buildings, and provides a welcoming and exciting place for people of all backgrounds and abilities to explore the arts.
Unfolding the Quilts The Quilt Museum and Gallery in York opened in 2008, displaying more than 700 historic and contemporary quilts. The museum has been supported to recruit and train volunteers in stewardship, workshops and conservation.

Education

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Jubilee Time After Time

Jubilee Time After Time is a schools-based project that uses activities to break down prejudices and barriers between older people and younger generations.

PLUGGED IN Magazine

PLUGGED IN is a music magazine produced by young people wanting to gain experience in writing and photography.

Windmills Cafe

The Windmills Café project is a training programme for young adults ages 18-25 who suffer from learning disabilities. The programme uses a café environment to teach important work experience skills so that those taking part may eventually enjoy employment and become less socially isolated.

Environment

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An Even Brighter Future

The Brighter Future Workshop collects, recycles and repairs used mobility equipment and trains disabled and underachieving young people in life skills and basic mechanical and electronic skills. It has saved thousands of pieces of mobility equipment from landfill and given many young people a new sense of responsibility.

Harvest Brighton & Hove

Harvest Brighton & Hove helps people to grow their own food through training, volunteering and finding more land for community gardens.

Watershed Landscape Project

The Watershed Landscape Project brings the story of the South Pennine uplands to life through a series of conservation, restoration, education and creative arts initiatives with volunteers taking the lead.

Health

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Altogether Better

Altogether Better is a programme that recruits, trains and supports community ‘Health Champions’ to motivate others and improve their lifestyles across Yorkshire and Humber.

Be Healthy

Founded four years ago by schoolboy, Luke Lancaster, the Be Healthy programme is a practical set of skills which enable young people to be more confident and understand how to have a healthy lifestyle.

Surf Action

Surf Action works with soldiers returning from active service in the Middle East, providing special therapeutic sessions to help them get back to community life. By using the physical activity of surfing, soldiers regain their confidence and develop positive everyday skills.

The Bionic Ear Show

The Bionic Ear Show, run by national charity Deafness Research UK, is an educational, fun and interactive show that promotes safe listening.

Heritage

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Bute Park Restoration

The Bute Park Restoration Project has transformed Cardiff's largest city centre park into a place celebrated by the city’s residents and visitors alike.

Curzon Community Cinema

Curzon Community Cinema which has been operating since 1912 has recently reopened as a historical centre for the local community to enjoy.

Unfolding the Quilts

The Quilt Museum and Gallery in York opened in 2008, displaying more than 700 historic and contemporary quilts. The museum has been supported to recruit and train volunteers in stewardship, workshops and conservation.

Wentworth Castle

The Wentworth Castle trust was created in 2002 to rescue the historic Wentworth Castle Estate through a programme of restoration and to provide public access to the site.

Sports

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Active Newcastle

Active Newcastle aimed to increase the number of adults taking part in sport and physical activity in the run up to the Olympics by making it easier for for disadvantaged communities to participate.

Chase Trails Cycle Project

Chase Trails involved local people in the design, build, maintenance and use of mountain bike trails in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire by providing equipment, training and machine hire to get the courses started.

Longridge Activity Centre

Longridge Activity Centre in Marlow is an innovative outdoor activity centre, enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Wheels for Wellbeing

Wheels for Wellbeing is a charity in Brixton that promotes disability cycling in south London.

Voluntary

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An Even Brighter Future The Brighter Future Workshop collects, recycles and repairs used mobility equipment and trains disabled and underachieving young people in life skills and basic mechanical and electronic skills. It has saved thousands of pieces of mobility equipment from landfill and given many young people a new sense of responsibility.	FREEWHEELING @ Adrenaline Alley Adrenaline Alley enables young people in Northamptonshire - including those who are disabled and disadvantaged - to participate in BMX, skateboard, in-line skate and scooter activities.	Hands That Talk Hands That Talk works to improve the lives of deaf people by providing access to employment, education and services. It also works with the hearing community to break down the communication barriers that exist between the hearing and hearing-impaired community, and trains people in deaf awareness and sign language.	Kidz Unlimited Kidz Unlimited provides young disabled people with local fun and friendship clubs and camps across the UK.
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service Oasis Domestic Abuse Service offers emergency accommodation to women suffering from domestic violence, and their children. As well as a safe house, it also provides an outreach and counselling service, resettlement service and children’s support worker.

Milliennial

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2012 Award Finalists

Arts

Achieving Something Special

Drumatik

Inclusion Through Practice

mac Birmingham