The GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards
GSK have issued a final call for community based healthcare charities to enter the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards which are designed to recognise and reward community-based charities nationwide doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
This is the first year of the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards in Ireland and is an expansion of similar award initiatives running in the UK and USA for the past 18 years. There is €50,000 for up to five winners available in unrestricted funding through the awards, while five runner-up charities will receive €1,000.
The deadline for applications is 5pm Tuesday 30th June 2015 and interested organisations can apply at http://ie.gsk.com/ie/responsibility/health-for-all/gsk-ireland-impact-awards
Claire Taaffe, Communications Director for GSK said: “Healthcare charities tackle some of society’s most difficult, often overlooked challenges. Very often it’s the smaller, less well known charities that are making a real difference to people’s lives but that we don’t often get to hear about or from. As a healthcare company, GSK wants to celebrate the dedication, innovation and commitment of these charities and support them to continue their vital work through the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards.”
CEO of the Wheel, Deirdre Garvey and judging panel member commented, “Right across Ireland, there are hundreds of small charities who are making a real impact to their communities. Very often, it is these small charities who are struggling for resources. The GSK Ireland Impact Awards will give these groups a great opportunity to apply for much needed funding but also to get the recognition they so rightly deserve”.
A unique feature of the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards is that they recognise excellence in existing work and do not seek to fund new projects. Judging is based on the work of the whole organisation. The name ‘IMPACT’ derives from the criteria that winners must demonstrate in their application submissions:
- Innovation: Leadership, creativity and initiative in addressing current challenges in healthcare access and delivery.
- Management: Efficient use of resources; quality of management processes; equality of opportunity; clear objectives and plans; strength and financial effectiveness of the organisation.
- Partnership: Working effectively with others (members, users, private and public sector partners, etc.); willingness to share ‘best practice’ and to learn from others.
- Achievement: Measurable results achieved; numbers of people benefited; impact on access to healthcare; a reflective approach to evaluation of the work; measurement and monitoring of performance.
- Community focus: Involving and responding to users and the community; openness and provision of information; adaptability to changing circumstances and needs.
- Targeting needs: Awareness of community issues and priorities and having a detailed understanding of the target community; ensuring services are accessible to, and focus on, people in need.
Organisations interested in applying must:
- Be registered and located in the Republic of Ireland and be in existence for at least three years
- Have a total annual income of between €20,000 and €1 million
- Target community health needs in Ireland, with community defined as a geographical community or a community of interest
- Able to point to a track record of achievement in community health issues
