Vodafone JustTextGiving wins Prime Minister’s Big Society Award
JustTextGiving by Vodafone is the latest winner of the Prime Minister's Big Society Award for the way it has revolutionised charity giving through text donations
Represntatives from Vodafone collected their award from the Prime Minister at a recent reception at Downing Street.
JustTextGiving means that for the first time ever, charities and individuals have access to a text donation service that is free to set up and run. This has given fundraisers the power to connect with the UK’s 50 million mobile phone users. The service is playing an important role in encouraging and simplifying charitable giving, meeting the needs of today’s connected and mobile society in an innovative way.
JustTextGiving by Vodafone was launched in May 2011. Achievements to date include:
- 17,000 charities signing up for their own text code
- over 50,000 individuals using JustTextGiving in their own fundraising.
- over £5 million has been raised by JustTextGiving
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
Vodafone’s JustTextGiving service has revolutionised the way people give to charity and many other groups that form part of the Big Society benefit from it. The idea of enabling people to donate to charities using their mobile phone is so simple, but by having the vision to use its technology and make it happen Vodafone has helped over £5 million reach charities that need it.
I’m pleased to be able to give Vodafone this Big Society Award in recognition of the huge difference they have made to so many groups around the country. I hope they inspire other businesses to think about how they can use their expertise to help others.
Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK Chief Executive Officer said:
This is wonderful recognition for a big step forward in fundraising in Britain using technology that everyone already has in their pocket. In particular, the smaller charities have embraced JustTextGiving and appreciate the additional funds it can bring them with no outlay.
Notes to Editors
On JustTextGiving by Vodafone
Media contacts:
Libby Pritchard
Vodafone UK Media Relations
01635 666777
ukmediarelations@vodafone.com
Aleyne Johnson
Senior Government Affairs Manager
07866571910
aleyne.johnson@vodafone.com
Website: https://www.justgiving.com/justtextgiving
On the Big Society Awards
The Big Society Awards were set up by the Prime Minister in November 2010. The aim is to acknowledge individuals and organisations across the UK that demonstrates the Big Society in their work or activities. In so doing, the aim is also to galvanise others to follow.
The award focuses upon three specific areas:
Outstanding Contribution to Community
- people, projects and organisations that enable communities to drive change themselves
- projects and organisations that allow the community to identify solutions
- people, projects and organisations that inspire others to contribute to their community
Improving Lives and Society Through Innovation, Collaboration and New Partnerships
- people and organisations taking new approaches to public services
- successful collaboration and partnerships between public, private and voluntary sector - working together to benefit communities
Engaging in Social Action
- people, projects and organisations taking action in their community
- working together for social change (e.g. through creating groups, campaigns, movements)
- generosity of time, money, skills and other resources - in support of social action
Launching the awards, the Prime Minister said:
There are some amazing projects and remarkable voluntary work going on in towns and cities up and down the country, by all kinds of organisations from large enterprises to tiny grassroots schemes and inspirational individuals.
These awards are a chance to pay tribute to those making a valuable contribution to their community, the real champions of the Big Society, but perhaps more importantly, I hope they will motivate many others to take action, get involved and drive change in their area.
Nominations come in from the general public after which there follows a process of scoring and short-listing by civil servants and a further short-listing by a Panel of Ministers and independent external experts. This Panel makes recommendations to the Prime Minister who makes the final decisions about who to make the award to. Twelve winners are decided each quarter meeting and then announced once a week throughout the year.
Fifty-four winners have been announced to date, including:
Livity (Nationwide) - A youth engagement agency working with young people every day to co-create campaigns, content and communities. Their clients - including C4, Legacy Trust, Google, NHS, Virgin Media, BlackBerry and Big Lottery Fund - get uniquely deep youth insights and a precious pool of young talent, energy and ideas. Their young people get training, equipment, support and opportunities to build brighter futures.
The Furniture Recycling Project (Gloucestershire) - The Furniture Recycling Project is a charity that has been operating in Gloucestershire since 1996 collecting donated furniture and household white goods, repairing and testing the items, and selling them at their shops for a very low cost to the disadvantaged community in Gloucestershire.
Cherry Orchard Gardening Services (Staffordshire) - COGS is a social enterprise from Staffordshire that enables disabled people to maintain gardens of elderly residents. A team of trained gardeners, all of who have a learning disability, carries out the gardening for older people as well as the grounds of the Memorial Hall. Their work reduces the vulnerability of the elderly, as their property appears well maintained, whilst providing disabled individuals with useful skills and work.
Volunteer it Yourself (Nationwide) - VIY combines volunteering and DIY by challenging young people aged 14-17 to learn building and construction skills on the job by committing to fix local youth club buildings in need of essential repairs. VIY volunteers are mentored by professional tradespeople and gain vocational accreditations as well as access to further training, work placement and apprenticeship opportunities with local employers beyond the project.
For a full list of winners visit Big Society Awards website