Please note that workshops to help with the application process will be held on 3 and 17 May in the City Marketing Suite. Please fill in the registration form if you are interested in attending. The workshops are open to anyone who is interested in applying regardless of whether they have applied before.
The judges read many applications in a short space of time. If it is not immediately clear what your community activity entails, your application will not stand out. Try to limit your descriptions of the context of your project/programme (e.g. 'Tower Hamlets is one of the most deprived boroughs in the UK...'). While a short explanation of why a particular area and project has been chosen is helpful, the application should be primarily about your project and its impact.
Tell us as much as possible about who has benefited and in what way. We would like to hear about the benefits to your organisation as well as the benefits to your community partners. We have requested that you include numbers and percentages. Please do not be put off by this request - it simply aids the judges in evaluating the overall impact of your project. The judges will not compare the outcomes of small versus large organisations. They will look for a demonstration of commitment to the project and real benefits to a community. If you do not yet have any actual figures, please estimate them.
Be honest about any challenges or disappointments you have experienced. The judges know that community involvement can be frustrating as well as rewarding. They will take into account the challenges you have overcome.
In many of the questions on the form, examples are given of information you may wish to include. These examples are not prescriptive and should merely serve as a guide to the information that it might be useful to include.
Each question has a protected maximum number of characters which allows for a slightly more than the stated word limit. When you reach the character limit you will be unable to type any more. Do not feel that you must use all of the words available: previous winners frequently used fewer words than the word limit.
Two or more organisations may apply jointly where they are working in equal partnership on a given project. In this case, please give the names of all the companies involved but only one set of primary contact details (indicating which company they are for) and one secondary contact for reference only. In the event that a joint application should win, all parties will receive Awards.
We ask all organisations to give the name and contact details of someone at a community organisation that is mentioned in your application form, who can verify your programme or project. This person will be emailed upon receipt of the application form to confirm the value of your support. The email will read as follows: Dear Sir / Madam I have received an application to the Lord Mayor's Dragon Awards from [your name]. [Company x] has listed you as a community partner and have stated that they provide support to your organisation e.g. volunteers. If you are happy for this application to proceed to the judging round please do nothing. In the event that you have any concerns please contact 020 7332 3608 or dragonawards@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Once we have received your form, we will email your Chief Executive or equivalent to ensure they are happy with your organisation applying for an Award. The email will read as follows: Dear Chief Executive I have received an application to the Lord Mayor's Dragon Awards from [your name]. If you are happy for this application to proceed to the judging round please do nothing. In the unlikely event that you have any concerns please contact 020 7332 3608 or dragonawards@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Please read the following example to best understand how to answer questions 3 and 4. This section is very important, as these questions comprise the bulk of your score.
Example: Your project involves six staff from the accounting department tutoring ten homeless people in accounting and finance. At the end of the project, each homeless person receives a finance book and three of the homeless people have found jobs.
To answer question 3: Your quantitative community benefits (outputs) could include: ten homeless people accessing the accounting/finance training. Three homeless people finding jobs. It would also include ten finance books. Your qualitative community benefits (outputs) might include: improved self-confidence by the beneficiaries.
To answer question 4: Your quantitative business benefits (outputs) might include: percentage of staff who developed their skills through mentoring. It could also include the percentage of volunteers who felt more pride in working for the company. NB: Judges will understand if you do not have quantitative benefits. Please explain why in the application. Your qualitative business benefits (outputs) might include: improved staff morale and strengthened client / customer relationships.