Voting open for Steve Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards
A SHORTLIST of charitable entries for the Steve Morgan Foundation's Entrepreneur Awards are now open to the public vote.
More than 100 entries have been received across the five different categories, with the respective winners and runners-up now to be decided by foundation trustees and online voting.
The are four categories to vote in, with winners receiving £5,000 and two runners-up receiving £1,000 each.
The categories to vote in are: Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise; Charity or Social Enterprise making Greatest Local Impact; Charity or Social Enterprise Changing Young Lives; Charity or Social Enterprise with Best Volunteer Team.
A fifth category winner for Best Overall Individual Contribution to Charity will be decided at the judges' discretion, with a winner's prize of £5,000.
"We have had some fantastic applications from charities and not-for-profit organisations," said Jane Harris, Director of Regional Funding.
"The trustees had a very tough task to draw up the shortlists and it will probably be even more difficult to choose the winners and runners-up, which is why it will be nice to have a helping hand, with the online voting making up 25 per cent of the overall points.
"The winners and runners-up will be announced at our next charity conference at Carden Park on September 13, sure to be another really positive day sharing all those stories of innovation and good practice which makes our supported charities so special," added Jane.
This year's awards are a revised version of the Entrepreneur Awards previously organised by the Steve Morgan Foundation on an annual basis between 2008 and 2012.
It was from attending last year's inaugural charity conference at Carden Park that Steve, inspired by so many examples of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, decided to bring the awards back for this year.
Steve said: "The high standard of the applications has confirmed our view that there is a huge amount of dedication, creativity and innovation taking place within the third sector.
"Even those charities who haven't made our shortlists should feel very proud of the work that they are doing to change the lives of people in their communities.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to make an application and congratulate those who have made the shortlists as we move into the next stage of the judging process."
To vote in the various categories, visit tfaforms.com/4735053
Voting will remain open until midnight on Sunday, July 21.