Creative Lives Awards: A Celebration of Humanity

A Celebration of Humanity

The Awards in statistics 12 ceremonies in 10 locations across the UK and Ireland 125 awards given out

1,000 applicants

Over 65,000 votes cast in the People’s Choice Award

116 winners

The Creative Lives Awards Creative Lives’ annual awards ceremony started life in 2010. Formerly known as the Epic Awards, this uplifting event celebrates the creative groups that enhance people’s lives in villages, towns and cities across the UK and Ireland.

Each year, we invite community-led groups to enter our Awards so we can shine a spotlight on the activities they deliver and take part in. All of them help foster a sense of community and provide vital opportunities for people to express their creativity, make friends, learn new skills, have fun and increase their wellbeing.

Judging panels in each of the five nations choose a Winner and Runner-up, we ask the public to vote for who wins the People’s Choice Award, and the shortlisted groups vote for each other to win the Peer Award for Excellence. We also look across the shortlisted groups to select a Celebrating Diversity Award winner and in each location the Awards Ceremony is held in, we find a ‘Local Hero’.

But rather than divide this publication up into our Award categories, we’ve decided to focus on the many ways our winning groups make a difference in their local communities. All of them use creativity in some form to bring people together - but regardless of whether it’s singing, dancing, painting, crafting, playing music, or any of the countless other forms of creative expression, the thing that unites them is humanity.

Come and meet some of our wonderful winners...

Bringing people together Dadesley Crafting | 2022 England Winner Founded in 2021 by three volunteers, Dadesley Crafting in South Yorkshire aims to bring people together, using craft to combat loneliness and improve mental health and wellbeing.

In 2022, they opened a dedicated craft room at a second site and are now open six days a week, with a growing membership of more than 100 people aged between 18 and 90.

They have offered 65 different craft workshops, all aimed at beginners, providing support in every session from threading a needle to simply holding a hand and listening.

When someone new walks through the door, they are welcomed like an old friend. Everyone is valued for simply being themselves. Crafting or painting at home is fantastic but when people come in here, they start talking and sharing things they might not otherwise.

“Some people are told throughout their lives that they’re no good at painting or drawing. But they come here and we tell them that everyone is creative, everyone can achieve things – and they do.” Michelle Dunn, Dadesley Crafting

The Kindness Postbox | Ireland Runner-up 2022 The Kindness Postbox began in April 2021 in Enniskillen, with the aim of connecting children and elderly care home residents through cards, letters and drawings.

It all started with a child-sized postbox being placed inside a shop. Pupils from a nearby school were encouraged to drop mail into it, and their letters were then delivered to a local care home. Other schools heard about the project and began hosting their own boxes on-site and were paired up with their nearest care home.

Word soon spread and shortly after the schools got involved, other organisations began to ask if they could take part, too and the Kindness Postbox has grown and grown from there. Partnerships have also been made with local Men's Sheds, to build the postboxes.

“The Kindness Postbox is a simple but effective way to establish and maintain a connection between young and old in the community. Volunteers collect and deliver the mail and to date, over 15,000 items have been delivered to 12,000 care home residents.” Nuala O'Toole, The Kindness Postbox

Bringing people together 24 Carat Gold | 2019 Scotland Runner-up Based in Edinburgh, dance group 24 Carat Gold has members aged 60 to 87. They meet fortnightly, fund their own sessions, and regularly take part in festivals and events. Members teach each other different dance styles, share thoughts and ideas, help each other celebrate the good things and support each other during sad times.

Avant Cymru | 2020 Wales Runner-up When they discovered that many hip hop artists in South Wales were creating, training and teaching in isolation, Avant Cymru provided new training opportunities, brokered new venues and brought a diverse range of local and international partners together. Young volunteers have gone on to take part in dance festivals and events, challenging misconceptions about hip hop.

Bringing people together Sahyadri Friends Group | 2020 Peer Award for Excellence The Sahyadri Friends Group was initially set up to support women who had moved to Coventry with their families, and were feeling isolated and sometimes suffering from mental health issues. But what started as a single coffee morning in a local library grew into a network of meetings at five libraries, involving a diverse mix of 250 families.

They are passionate about celebrating difference and diversity in the community and as well as regular activities for all ages, including dance, music, art, crafts, fashion, jewellery and more, the group celebrates major Indian festivals such as Diwali and Holi on a grand scale. The group has also been invited to perform and take part in various festivals in the city, International Women's Day and a Christmas event at Coventry Cathedral.

“Our motto is to promote art and culture in all forms and help bring out the best in people through creative endeavours. The events and activities that are organised all focus on the emotional wellbeing and mental health of our members.” Sahyadri Friends Group

May Project Gardens | 2021 England Winner A former council home with a derelict garden in South London, May Project Gardens has been turned into a public community space to empower marginalised groups.

The project offers a nurturing safe space for workshops, healing, and communication, including the ‘Hip Hop Garden’ where participants come together to express their feelings, keep fit with outdoor training, and make and record music.

"We use nature, food and creative arts to work with groups – mostly young people, people of colour and refugees – to create social change. Having genuine care for the people around us and the environment is pivotal to our success." Ian Solomon-Kawall, May Project Gardens

Bringing people together Musicians in Exile | 2019 Scotland winner "Where can I go to make music?" asked one refugee from El Salvador arriving in Scotland. The answer he was given was “Musicians in Exile”, a community project for asylum-seeking and refugee musicians in Glasgow. Through the group, the musicians build a new sense of family, create networks with local musicians, and support each other musically to perform in mixed languages and styles, benefiting their own wellbeing and that of the wider community.

Inside Out | 2021 England Runner-up During the pandemic, 70 local people in Fleetwood, Lancashire came together with artist Gillian Wood and over 200 local volunteer sewers to make gowns for the NHS. Whilst producing the scrubs, it became clear how many people were being creative during lockdown, so they decided to curate an exhibition in the disused Fleetwood Hospital. Over 500 people attended Inside Out’s five 'wards' of art and crafts, which included photographs, paintings, sculptures, knitting, wallpaper and tablecloths.

Fostering wellbeing Mental Inkness | 2022 Peer Award for Excellence Winner Led by and with people with experience of mental ill health, this online digital art gallery brings together artists and creative writers to discuss the impact and stigmatisation of mental illness. For many, the experience of being part of a creative and kind community helps lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation, as well as helping them develop creatively.

Participants have held their own exhibitions, hosted stalls at craft fairs, produced zines and had artwork and poetry published in magazines.

Organisers are building a database of opportunities for mentally ill and marginalised and disabled artists and writers.

While conversations around anxiety and depression have become more normalised, stigma remains toward people with psychotic disorders.

“The project aimed to challenge this stigma by giving insight into mental health conditions that are often overlooked and demonstrating that the people are far more than their diagnosis.” Jessica, Mental Inkness

‘Man Up’ | 2019 Peer Award for Excellence Initiated by participatory performance company Restoke in Stoke-on-Trent, ‘Man Up’ was a performance about masculinity and mental health. Over the course of six months, 60 men joined in conversations, shared stories and took part in creative workshops in dance, singing, illustration and poetry.

Following that, 17 of these men – all from very different walks of life – went on to co-create and perform ‘Man Up’, working with professional performers to develop a performance based on their own ideas, stories and lived experiences.

This show was rehearsed and performed in Goldenhill Working Mens Club on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent, and over four nights the cast performed to almost 600 people.

Fostering wellbeing The Wallich: Homelessness on Film | 2019 Wales Winner With support from Cardiff-based charity The Wallich, 20 people who have experienced homelessness and rough sleeping took part in three documentary filmmaking projects.

Participants were trained to produce their own films, learning animation, lighting, filming, scripting, interviewing and editing. The resulting short documentaries are inspiring stories of adversity, addiction, mental health, courage and hope.

Fallen Angels | 2021 Celebrating Diversity Award Runner-up Fallen Angels Dance Theatre in Chester uses creativity to support people who are in recovery from addiction. During the pandemic, volunteers (known as 'Supporting Angels') ensured everyone felt supported. They led a 'Telephone Buddy' system to offer daily contact, met on social media to share poetry and photography, and started weekly Zoom sessions to co-deliver wellbeing sessions.

Fostering wellbeing Kirrie Connections | 2019 Celebrating Diversity Award Based in the rural Angus town of Kirriemuir, Kirrie Connections is a dementia support hub, offering a range of creative activites for its members and their carers. Its group of over 30 volunteers bring a wealth of skill, knowledge and experience to the sessions, which have included rug-making, mosaicking, printmaking and plaster mould casting.

Lack of social interaction can have a hugely detrimental effect on people with dementia, leading to depression and an acceleration of their condition. Attending Kirrie Connections helps them remain creative members of their local community.

“We’re delighted that our volunteers have been recognised with this award. Every week they make Kirrie Connections a special place, and play a vital part in ensuring that people with dementia remain active and engaged.” Graham Galloway, Kirrie Connections

Survivor Arts Community | 2021 Scotland Runner-up Survivor Arts Community was set up to address isolation among survivors of sexual abuse or domestic violence. Based in Glasgow, the group ran a series of online illustration workshops during the pandemic, which allowed participants to explore their creativity in a safe space.

The workshops culminated in a digital exhibition which was showcased to the public through an online launch, challenging misconceptions about survival and abuse.

Participants cited the impact taking part in the project had on both their artistic skills and their wellbeing, saying: “It allowed us to show ourselves as complex individuals who are more than just the label survivor” and “Having the opportunity to participate in Survivor Arts’ projects is an important aspect of the healing process.”

Fostering wellbeing Coffee ’n’ Laughs | 2021 Celebrating Diversity Award This Newport-based group offered an inclusive space for women ‘of all faiths and none’ to come together and create. During the pandemic, activity took place online, with knitting, sewing, poetry and photography sessions designed to help vulnerable members feel empowered. The group was a vital support for the women, some of whom were newly widowed, recently bereaved or experiencing mental and physical ill health.

The RE-Tune Project | 2017 Scotland Winner Based in one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas, the RE-Tune Project works with people affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and those experiencing loneliness and isolation, especially exservice personnel. During the workshops, participants learn the relevant skills to design and make their own guitar and other stringed instruments. “Winning the Award helped us feel fresh and re-energised,” said project organiser, David McHarg, “it really does make a difference.”

Inclusion and representation Sewing2Together All Nations | 2022 Scotland Winner Set up by two volunteers in 2018 to provide creative workshops for members of the refugee and asylum seeker community in Paisley, this group has grown from strength to strength. It now has six sessional workers, ten volunteers and over 80 participants who want to practise their English and build new friendships while being creative.

Paisley is known as 'the town that thread built', so participants worked together to create an exhibition of ‘Millie dolls’, capturing the rich textile heritage of Scotland and of ‘New Scots’.

“As we sewed, stuffed, and made bespoke outfits from upcycled textiles for our Millies, we gathered stories from across the globe of our memories of family and homelands from Afghanistan to Venezuela.” Corinne Watt, Sewing2Together All Nations

Oasis One World Choir | 2022 Wales Winner Based in Cardiff, Oasis One World Choir has become a lifeline for people restarting their lives in a new country – often in a language that is new to them. The choir welcomes people seeking sanctuary in Wales, and members of the wider community, helping them to share and grow together.

The process of seeking asylum can be long and uncertain, and people are often placed in temporary accommodation where they struggle to make connections.

Oasis helps to strengthen community engagement through the power of music, singing, songwriting, movement and drumming.

The choir also brings enormous therapeutic and social benefits to its members, who represent over 30 different nationalities.

Inclusion and representation Celf-Able | 2021 Peer Award for Excellence Started by a group of disabled artists in Powys, Celf-Able is 100% disabled-led but inclusive and open to anyone. The group hires accessible spaces and brings people together to create art in a social and peer-supportive atmosphere. “Some people say that they can't do art and are reluctant at first, but when they get stuck in they produce beautiful work and tell us how much better they feel for having spent time being creative.” Amanda Wells, Celf-Able

African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland | 2022 Celebrating Diversity Winner This organisation for African and Caribbean people in Scotland aged 60+ attracts members from around the country who meet regularly online, providing each other with support, companionship and fun.

They have run events to mark Black History Month and explored a range of topics from immigration to fighting injustice, through storytelling, poetry and creative writing.

Inclusion and representation Bristol Beacon: Different Beginnings | 2022 England Runner-up and Peer Award for Excellence Live music venue Bristol Beacon has a strong reputation for supporting young people in, or who have recently left, the care system. In 2022, they worked with care leavers to develop ‘Different Beginnings’, an album project which saw participants get involved in songwriting, sound, design and event planning.

Nineteen care leavers took part, seven of whom were also on the steering group that made decisions on how the project progressed.

“It was so great to hear the creative ideas the care leavers put forward and watch them turn those ideas into actual pieces - be that artwork, music composition or lyric writing. All of the pieces have such deep meaning and a lot of the care leavers are using this as a way to communicate what they have been through.” Lu Bristow-Goldschmidt, Bristol Beacon

Black Box Projects | 2021 Ireland Winner Black Box Projects was created and run for and by people with learning disabilities, supported by a team of dedicated volunteers and the Black Box venue in Belfast.

With many members already experiencing isolation prior to the pandemic, lockdown presented a serious challenge, but one that the team was determined to overcome together. A programme of remote creative online groups was put in place, and other activities through the year focused on mental health and wellbeing.

All of this provided a vital, regular routine for members and a sense of familiarity when a lot of other important services were closed.

“Our volunteers are more confident, creatively innovative and have developed resource skills, demonstrating flexibility and the ability to work well under pressure and despite unprecedented circumstances!”

Seonaid Murray, Black Box Projects

Inclusion and representation Urban Circle Newport | 2022 Wales Runner-up Based in Pillgwenlly, Newport, Urban Circle engages, supports and empowers young people and communities. One of its biggest projects was the international festival ‘Reggae and Riddim’, which aimed to break down barriers and prejudice around Jamaican culture.

A team from Jamaica was joined by Urban Circle’s young creatives who, at the ages of 18-25, became the site team for the event and also had their art (painting, film, dance, music) showcased at the festival, to an audience of 4,000+ attendees. Collectively the youth team gained 50+ qualifications equipping them with the tools to manage such a large-scale event, including first aid, health and safety, stewarding and safeguarding.

Joy of Sound | 2020 England Winner The Joy of Sound is run by volunteers, who provide inclusive music and arts activities for people of all ages, including marginalised groups and disabled people facing complex health challenges.

Their ‘Krar Project’, which involved instrument making and musical events, embraced cultural differences in their local area, in particular the Eritrean and Ethiopian communities near their base in Brixton.

A sense of place Fatima Groups United | 2022 Ireland Winner Located in Dublin, Fatima Groups United Family Resource Centre offers counselling, health & fitness and arts & creativity sessions in an area which endured high employment, bad housing and widespread heroin addiction in the 1980s and 90s. The Centre has an ‘Arts For All’ policy which recently saw Fatima Dance Group join forces with the Fatima Poetry Vigilantes to create a new piece of work, ‘Dance Till Dán’, that was filmed and shared.

“Over 12 weeks, the poets became dancers and the dancers became poets, through structured weekly dance and poetry sessions. The project was richly rewarding and helped develop a great bond and love of dance and poetry amongst the participants, and a buzz of excitement within the area.” Richie Keane, Fatima Groups United

Bridgend Ecobothy | 2020 Scotland Winner Based in Edinburgh, Bridgend Farmhouse is a communityowned hub situated between three large housing estates in the highest 15% on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. The farmhouse was renovated several years ago, but the surrounding barns were unused and in a state of disrepair – until the local community saw an opportunity to build a valuable creative space for all to use.

A team of 40 volunteers led on every part of the design and build of this unique ‘off-grid’ ecobothy, and over 70 local children helped design the accessible outdoor play area. The Bothy is used for environmental education, counselling, storytelling, arts, performance and more.

“Volunteers come from all walks of life, including single parents, people experiencing homelessness, mental ill-health and unemployment, retired people, new Scots and students, all with different levels of ability.” Will Golding, Bridgend Ecobothy

A sense of place Art on the Hill Newport | 2020 Wales Winner An annual arts trail that takes place in South Wales, Art on the Hill Newport was born out of a desire to reduce barriers for people in the community participating in the arts. The trail featured over 100 artists in 32 venues over one weekend, increasing the community’s access to a diverse range of artistic activity and improving engagement between arts organisations and members of the public.

Angela Gabriel | 2022 Local Hero Award In 2019, Creative Lives introduced the Local Hero Award to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to arts development in their local community. As the 2022 Creative Lives Awards ceremony took place in Leeds, the Local Hero Award went to Angela Gabriel, a dedicated volunteer who has devoted a huge amount of time to her local community garden project Beeston in Bloom and the annual Beeston Festival.

A sense of place Creative Criccieth/Cricieth Creadigol | 2021 Wales Winner A small, bilingual seaside town in north-west Wales, Criccieth played host to a series of imaginative, volunteer-led creative projects during the pandemic, that brought people together (safely) and kept spirits up. Projects included the creation of ‘Criccieth Gown of Poppies’, made from 5,000 poppies, ‘Friendship Benches’ created to bring different generations together, a largescale art installation built with painted stones, and a community garden – all involving hundreds of local volunteers.

“Criccieth responded to the challenges imposed by Covid-19 with compassion, energy and vision. The various creative projects involved hundreds in the community, drawing on talents from across the generations and from all districts of the town, contributing to people’s well-being and quality of life.” Catrin Jones, Creative Criccieth

Bureau Centre for the Arts | 2019 England Winner Led by local Blackburn residents and artists, the Bureau Centre for the Arts was set up to bring about positive change in this Lancashire town. For five years, the centre was based in an abandoned church but, following a fire, has since moved to a former training centre. In each location, volunteers have worked tirelessly to arrange and host a wide range of activities for all to enjoy, including festivals, visual art, theatre, music, dance and family events.

“The Bureau is more than an arts centre. As well as providing opportunities for people of all ages to experience and make art in all its forms, we’ve become a hub in the town, providing a safe space for people to learn, grow and belong.” Kerris Casey-St Pierre, Bureau Centre for the Arts

A sense of place Newstead News | 2022 Scotland Runner-up A community newspaper created, printed and distributed in the small village of Newstead in the Scottish Borders, ‘Newstead News’ started life as a small flyer written by one volunteer. But as interest spread, more and more villagers of all ages got involved, taking part in photography, writing and more until the publication grew into a full-colour magazine delivered free to every home in the local area.

Care For Creation | Ireland Winner 2020 A large-scale public art project in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, ‘Care For Creation’ was a celebration of the natural world. Highlighting environmental concerns, and how we can all work together to make a difference, the project involved over 400 people of all ages, abilities and faiths, who created artworks to form a unique art trail around their local area.

A spirit of collaboration Jubilation | 2022 People’s Choice Award One of the largest illuminated carnival processions in Europe, Bridgwater Carnival takes place each November in Somerset. A key aspect of the event is the friendly rivalry between teams, as they attempt to outdo each other by creating ever-more elaborate carts.

But in 2022, something unprecedented happened – clubs put their rivalry aside to collaborate on a cart to grace the route of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Over 200 volunteers shared their skills in engineering, model making, fibre-glassing, paper maché, dressmaking, painting, carpentry, sound and lighting to magnificent effect.

“We were unable to stage our Carnival in 2020 or 2021, due to the pandemic. So this project was a magnificent way of bringing everybody back together again and rekindling enthusiasm for their favourite hobby.” Chris Hocking, Bridgwater Carnival

Lagan Currachs | 2019 Ireland Winner Involving almost 100 volunteers from Belfast and the surrounding area, Lagan Currachs was a community boat-building project that took place over nine months. During that time, participants came together to collaborate on every aspect of the currach’s design and build. At 33ft long, and with the capacity to fit 12 people onboard, the currach has since been used to welcome local charities and community groups to share in their adventures on the River Lagan.

“The Lagan Currach project aimed to build community relations, improve personal wellbeing and engage everyone in our society – all from building a boat.

The hard work and dedication of our volunteers created a really welcoming, dynamic and special group.” Kylah Dittmar, Lagan Currachs

A spirit of collaboration Lost Connections | 2021 Wales Runner-up Lost Connections used textile projects to connect people in Newport, South Wales and tackle loneliness and isolation. Art packs were delivered in the local area, and together they created a ‘quilt of friendship’ and a ‘coat of radical kindness’.

Oriel Traditional Orchestra | 2019 People’s Choice Award & Ireland Runner-up Set up in 2017 to explore the musical heritage of Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh, Oriel Traditional Orchestra grew to become a cross-border intergenerational community orchestra bringing people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland together.

A spirit of collaboration Drumgoon Hill Old Graveyard | 2021 People's Choice Award Drumgoon Hill Old Graveyard committee was set up by members of the local community in County Cavan, to clean and maintain an overgrown site. With a newly adapted space available, several creative projects followed including ‘Hooley in the House’, which was held as an online celebration during the pandemic.

Local volunteers of all ages recorded footage and worked with Tullyvin Musical Society and Maudabawn Macra to put together a night of music, singing and storytelling, providing a boost for the whole community.

"Although we had to work differently due to the challenges of Covid, we used it to our advantage by moving the event online, reaching more people and making it an even bigger success." Roseabby McGorry, Drumgoon Hill Old Graveyard

Yarn Bombing Mountmellick | 2018 Ireland Winner & People’s Choice Award Run by a group of local volunteers, Yarnbombing Mountmellick transforms the town of Mountmellick, County Laois for two weeks every year. Houses, street lights, cars, bicycles, trees and businesses are all colourfully ‘yarn bombed’, building on the town’s textile past and attracting people from far and wide to see it.

“The group of volunteers work tirelessly to create a little bit of magic. They have given so much to the town and expect nothing in return.” Local resident

A spirit of collaboration A Grand Northern Ukulele Festival | 2018 England Winner The largest and longest-running ukulele festival in the country, A Grand Northern Ukulele Festival takes place in West Yorkshire each year. The organisers aim to involve as many people as possible, of all ages and backgrounds, as both performers and volunteers. They also seek out collaborations with other festivals and events in the local area to share knowledge and marketing opportunities, as well as sharing their experiences with newer ukulele festivals in the UK and across Europe.

Ulverston Lantern Festival | 2018 England Runner-Up Ulverston Lantern Festival aims to unite the community through craft, with over 800 lanterns created by locals and over 8,000 people attending the event. Volunteers sell lantern-making kits to fundraise for the running of the festival as well as working as stewards. Schools and community groups get involved, and local businesses help with promotion and advertising.

The Ceremony “What a totally joyous evening” Left: May Project Gardens, 2021 England Winner Below: Coffee 'n' Laughs, 2021 Celebrating Diversity Winner

Left: 2022 ceremony Above: The Belles of Three Spires Right: Sewing2Gether All Nations, 2022 Scotland Winner

“Such an outpouring of creativity, ingenuity, friendship and warmth”

The Ceremony “a wonderful, inspiring, uplifting event, brilliantly organised

by Creative Lives”

Left: 2019 ceremony Above: Bristol Beacon Different Beginnings

Left: 2022 ceremony, performance poet Jack Collins Above: 2021 Winners Below: Oasis One World Choir, 2022 Wales Winners

“very inspiring and life affirming”

Our winners | 2010 - 2023 Congratulations to all our wonderful winners African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland, Scotland-wide Alter:nativity, Aberdeenshire Apsara Arts, London Art on the Hill, Newport Avant Cymru, South Wales Ballymena Arts Partnership, Ballymena, County Antrim Barra Bunting Project, Isle of Barra, Western Isles Black Box Projects, Belfast Black History Month Wales, across Wales Braemar Creative Arts Festival, Aberdeenshire Bridgend Eco-Bothy, Edinburgh Bristol Beacon: Different Beginnings, Bristol British Association of Barbershop Singers, Warwick The Buddy Beat, Paisley, Renfrewshire Bureau Centre for the Arts, Blackburn, Lancashire Care For Creation, Belfast Castletown Heritage Society, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire Celf-Able, Mid-Wales The City of Birmingham Choir, Birmingham Coast Lines, Pembrokeshire coast The Cobweb Orchestra, County Durham Coffee ‘n’ Laughs, Newport Cordwainers Garden, London Crafty Corner, Derry The Craw’s Nest Project, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire Creative Cricieth/Cricieth Creadigol, Criccieth, Gwynedd Dadesley Crafting, South Yorkshire DD8 Music, Kirriemuir, Angus Drama Express, Cornwall Drumgoon Hill Old Graveyard, County Cavan The Exchange Creative Community, Morecombe, Lancashire Fatima Groups United, Dublin Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Chester, Cheshire Fermanagh St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh Fishguard Arts Society, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire Forth Bridges Accordion Band, Bo’ness, Falkirk Foyle Haven Arts Collective, Derry Free Wee Library Project, Donegal Friends of the Flyover, Liverpool

Our winners | 2010 - 2023 Angela Gabriel, Leeds Get the Chance, South Wales Mark Gibbins, Coventry Goldies Cymru, Cardiff GO! Together, Plymouth, Devon A Grand Northern Ukulele Festival, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire The Great Tapestry of Scotland, across Scotland Guthan an Iar, South Uist, Outer Hebrides Harps North West, Cumbria Heritage Theatre Cymru, Merthyr Tydfil Hermit Collective, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim and Donegal Arthur Howie, Edinburgh I Love Thunder, Middlesex Inside Out, Blackpool Irish Video Game Orchestra, Belfast Jestaminute Community Theatre, Redditch, Worcestershire The Joy of Sound, London Jubilation, Bridgwater, Somerset Kent Association for the Blind Medway Art Group, Rochester, Kent Kilmarnock Railway Station Heritage Trust, East Ayrshire The Kindness Postbox, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh Kirkudbright Art and Crafts Trail, Dumfries & Galloway Kirrie Connections, Kirriemuir, Angus Knitted Knockers, Southport, Merseyside Lagan Currachs, Belfast Lewis Pipe Band, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles Llangennech Knit, Craft & Chat Group, Llanelli Lost Connections, Newport MaDCaff, Ceredigion May Project Gardens, London Mental Inkness, UK-wide Milk and Cookies, Dublin Milton Keynes Islamic Arts, Buckinghamshire Movema, Liverpool MugStock, Glasgow Musicians in Exile, Glasgow Newstead News, Newstead, Scottish Borders NI Big Sock, across Northern Ireland Oasis One World Choir, Cardiff Oriel Traditional Orchestra, Armagh, Louth, Meath and Monaghan Overdrive Dance Company, Glasgow

Our winners | 2010 - 2023 Pandemonium Drummers, London Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Cambridgeshire Phizzfest, Dublin Photomarathon, Cardiff Pimp My Uke, across Wales Poetry in the Park, Athlone, County Westmeath Quilts 4 London, London Reach for Change, Greenock, Inverclyde The RE:Tune Project, Glasgow Riddell Fiddles, Selkirk, Scottish Borders Roscommon Solstic Choir, Roscommon Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance, South Yorkshire Sahyadri Friends Group, Coventry Say It Ain’t Sew, Glasgow Sewing2Gether All Nations, Paisley, Renfrewshire The South Devon Players, Brixham, Devon Spectrum Centre’s Social Sofa, Belfast Spit it Out Project, Edinburgh Strike A Chord, Cwmbran, Torfaen The Sunday Boys, Manchester The Survivor Arts Community, Glasgow The Theatre Room, Galway Third Floor Gallery, Cardiff Tullyvin Musical Society, County Cavan 24 Carat Gold, Edinburgh UC Crew, St Helens, Merseyside Ukulele Collective, Dublin Ulverston Lantern Festival, Ulverston, Cumbria Unanima Theatre, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Undercurrents, Swansea Up Men, Stoke-on-Trent Urban Circle Newport, Newport The Vent Collective, Belfast The Wallich, Cardiff Welsh Basket Makers South Wales Group, Bridgend Yarn Bombing Mountmellick, Mountmellick, County Laois

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