Brighton Society web platform wins Civic Voice Award

The first Civic Voice Awards for best website and newsletter across the UK provided a stiff competition with nearly 20 nominations in each category. After a vote among civic volunteers to provide two shortlists, Brighton saw off Ripon and Wakefield for the website award.

Following the presentation of the award, at the AGM of Civic Voice in Peterborough on Saturday 9 October,  sponsors and judges, Forster, an agency that specialises in developing communications for positive social change, offered the following appraisal of the site…

We commend The Brighton Society site for the easy on the eye design, regular news updates, clear navigation, concise writing and its use of social media.

Article below from Civic Voice website with full details of the award.

— – – – – – – -∞

First Civic Voice awards winners announced

Last Saturday saw the winners of the Civic Voice awards for the best websites and newsletters by civic societies announced at the first ever Civic Voice AGM, which was held in Peterborough.

Winner of the best website category was Brighton Society (www.brighton-society.org.uk), who saw off competition from Wakefield and Ripon Civic Societies. The best newsletter award went to Cambridge Past, Present and Future (www.issuu.com/civic_voice/docs/cambridge), beating other shortlisted entries from the societies in Birmingham and Wakefield.

The awards were sponsored and judged by communications agency, Forster, who specialise in developing communications for positive social change. Amanda Powell Smith, Director at Forster said:

“We were impressed by the standard of entries from civic societies from across the country, particularly considering that so much of this work is done by volunteers. These groups represent a fantastic example of how communities are working together to make the most of their local area and run important local campaigns and initiatives. Whether it’s the Conservatives Big Society or Labour’s Good Society, these are examples of those theories in action.”

Representatives from the winning groups were presented with their awards by Paula Ridley, Chair of Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement, which launched in April this year.

Commenting on the awards, Civic Voice’s Director, Tony Burton said, “Effective communication with both members and the public lies at the heart of successful local groups. The civic movement is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to recognise the achievement of volunteers working to improve the places where we all live.”

This year’s awards – the first of their kind – attracted over 40 entries from civic societies nationwide. While the quality of all entries was high, the judging panel from Forster felt there were a few simple tips that would help all civic societies improve their communications to members, and to the wider public. Its top ten tips for civic society communications have also been published on the Civic Voice at http://www.civicvoice.org.uk/resources/briefing-communication-tips/ for everyone to use.