Response 3901321

Response to request for information

Reference

3901321

Response date

4 March 2026

Request

In relation to the most recent Borough Awards programme, please provide the following information:

1. The final version of the judging criteria used for the awards.
2. Any written guidance, briefing notes, scoring matrices, or instructions provided to judges or panel members.
3. Any reference (explicit or implicit) within those documents to accessibility, equality, disability, or inclusive practice.
4. Any Equality Impact Assessment, equality screening, or documented consideration of accessibility or inclusion undertaken in relation to the awards’ design, delivery, or judging process.
5. If no such equality or accessibility considerations were undertaken, please confirm this explicitly.

Response

1. The final version of the judging criteria used for the awards. 
   • Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards. 
   • Judging Criteria – Ranking Framework.
   • Overview: Judges review each nomination holistically, using the criteria below as guiding principles. Instead of scoring individual criteria, the judging panel will discuss each nomination and agree a collective ranking for each award category. The aim is to ensure that decisions reflect overall merit, community value, and alignment with the purpose of the Rushcliffe Community Awards.
   • Core Judging Criteria (Applied to All Categories)
   • Impact Judges consider evidence of meaningful or positive change for individuals, groups, or places within Rushcliffe. They review demonstrated outcomes or benefits arising from the contribution, and whether the work has lasting, sustained, or ongoing impact.
   • Community Representation & Geographical Reach Judges reflect on how well the nomination represents Rushcliffe’s diverse communities, including rural villages, suburban areas, and town centres. They also consider whether the effort benefits residents across different parts of the borough or addresses needs specific to a local area, and the overall geographic balance across the shortlist.
   • Inclusivity & Accessibility Judges consider how welcoming and inclusive the actions or project are. They look for evidence of efforts to remove barriers and enable participation for people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and experiences. They also assess adaptations that ensure equitable access.
   • Innovation, Creativity or Leadership Judges look for new ideas, approaches, or solutions to local issues. They consider creative contributions that enhance wellbeing or community participation, and examples of leadership, initiative, or setting a positive example.
   • Commitment, Dedication and Values Judges consider the level of commitment shown, including volunteer hours and long-term dedication. They also look at alignment with Rushcliffe Borough Council values such as community cohesion, wellbeing, environment, health, and active lifestyles.
   • Judging Process (No Scores Used) • Individual Review – Judges read each nomination and reflect on the criteria above.
     • Panel Discussion – The panel discusses strengths, impact, and distinctive qualities of each nomination.
     • Holistic Ranking – Judges agree a ranked order of nominations for each category, focusing on overall contribution, community value, and alignment with criteria.
     • Fairness Checks – The panel ensures geographic spread, representation of different community groups and demographics, and balance across sectors (e.g., sports, arts, health, volunteer-led groups). 
     • Final Decision – The top-ranked nomination becomes the recommended winner.
   • Award  Categories
     • Volunteer of the Year
     • Business of the Year
     • Young Person/Group of the Year
     • Community Group of the Year
     • Sportsperson of the Year
     • Sports Club of the Year
     • Food and Drink Establishment of the Year
     • Health and Wellbeing Project of the Year
     • Environmental Award (Group/Project of the Year)
     • The Pride of Rushcliffe Award
     • RBC Lord Lieutenant's Award
   • Additional Expectations for Judges
     • All judges must have completed mandatory Equality and Diversity eLearning and ensure all decisions are made with due regard to Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Equalities Scheme. 
     • Judges should give equal weight to contributions from smaller villages and larger towns.
     • Judges should recognise the value of projects of all sizes, from large-scale initiatives to small but high-impact grassroots efforts.
2. Any written guidance, briefing notes, scoring matrices, or instructions provided to judges or panel members.
   • See answer to question 1
3. Any reference (explicit or implicit) within those documents to accessibility, equality, disability, or inclusive practice.
   • See answer to question 1
4. Any Equality Impact Assessment, equality screening, or documented consideration of accessibility or inclusion undertaken in relation to the awards’ design, delivery, or judging process.
   • An EIA in not completed for the Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards as it is not required as it is not a policy or function of the council
5. If no such equality or accessibility considerations were undertaken, please confirm this explicitly.
   • See answer to question 4