We were on a high for such a long time … I don’t think we’ve come down from that.” Neither Rachel Foster nor the rest of the Cheshire West and Chester library service team expected to win the Guardian’s Public Service Awards 2018. The team had been far too impressed by the standards of the other entries that had also been shortlisted for a transformation award. “We were really proud to even be considered among them, let alone win,” says Foster, who is the council’s senior library services manager.
At the ceremony in November, Foster and her colleagues were recognised for transforming their borough’s library service through the launch of Storyhouse, a vibrant multipurpose community centre. The £37m complex comprises a library, theatre and cinema all under one roof. It’s the only centre of its kind in the UK, and it landed Foster’s team two Guardian awards, including that of overall best public service.
Projects like Storyhouse provide a vital ray of light amid the encircling gloom for UK public services, battered by almost 10 years of austerity and cuts. As Guardian columnist Frances Ryan points out, the government’s own analysis shows that since austerity was rolled out at the start of the decade, half a million more children in the UK are living lives blighted by poverty. It is, as local leaders like Ros Jones, elected mayor of Doncaster, keep saying, no way to run a country.
But as public service staff battle on, having their work recognised nationally by their peers is an opportunity not just to celebrate, but to spread great examples in a whole range of services. From councils to the civil service, from charities to prisons, the Guardian public service awards bring together professionals and volunteers with a single aim: improving outcomes for the people they serve.
“Austerity has put the dedication of public service workers to the stiffest test – and they haven’t been found wanting,” says David Brindle, the Guardian’s public services editor. “While we rightly lament what has been lost, we should also treasure what has been saved and what, against all the odds, has been improved.
“Excellent public services are the hallmark of a civilised society. They exemplify our core values of mutuality, fairness and common decency. As long as we can still point to such services, and tip our hats to them, we can be sure that we haven’t wholly lost our way,” adds Brindle, who is also chair of the award judges.
Being shortlisted for the Guardian awards and attending the awards ceremony in London enabled Foster and her team to meet a host of other individuals devoted to bettering their communities. “We were able to learn so much from others. Whether it was housing people, or people in the care service, they were all inspirational,” she says.
Also inspired by the awards is Annette Smith, the manager of Morecambe Bay food bank, who was voted public servant of the year by Guardian readers. Smith is the manager of Morecambe Bay food bank, which delivers more than four tonnes of food a month to those struggling to feed themselves. Hers was the only award voted for by Guardian readers.
Like Foster and her team, Smith was taken aback by her victory. Nominated by a colleague, she only found out when the shortlist was announced and was initially embarrassed by the attention. “I’ve never done it for recognition,” she explains. But winning the award has increased awareness of Smith’s work, including speaking on the BBC World Service on a panel of food bank managers from across the world. “I think the award raised the profile of food banks in general,” she says. “And for myself, it’s given me some more credibility; people want to hear me speak on the topic.”
Ultimately, however, Smith admits that it was not winning but being nominated by her colleague that touched her the most. “That to me meant more than anything, the fact that our chair of trustees thought so highly of me.”
She adds: “I would tell anyone unsure of whether to nominate somebody or not that it is a good opportunity to demonstrate their worth; to make them feel valued and that what they’re doing is making a difference.”
For this year’s awards, which open for entries today, colleagues have a chance to nominate their peers in two new categories: climate champions and workforce wellbeing. The former is for a public service project or team that has made real strides in delivering services while cutting emissions or demonstrating other environmental excellence. Meanwhile, any outstanding project that has supported the health and wellbeing of staff working in public service is eligible to be nominated for the workforce wellbeing award.
Foster says: “Even if you don’t win, seeing everyone who’s been shortlisted and going to the awards ceremony, you won’t fail to be inspired by the work that’s going on. The whole experience was an absolute joy for us.”
How to enter
Entries are now open for the Guardian Public Service Awards 2019, which will showcase new projects, teams and individuals making a real difference to people’s lives. The awards are free to enter and are open to all those working in the UK’s public services, whether in a public body, private firm or voluntary organisation.
There are 10 categories for projects and teams:
· Care
· Climate champions
· Digital innovation
· Housing
· Public health & wellbeing
· Recruitment & HR
· Transformation
· Workforce diversity
· Workforce learning & development
· Workforce wellbeing
And two categories for outstanding individuals:
· Leadership excellence
· Public Servant of the Year (decided by public vote)
The closing date for entries is Monday 15 July, 2019. A panel of experienced public service leaders will assess all the entries and draw up a shortlist for the public servant of the year vote, which will take place in October. All the winners will be announced at an event in November and published in the Guardian and online on 27 November 2019. For full details, including the categories and how to enter, click here.
