Link entrants rehearse their lines

The judges are busy deciding on the winners of this year’s NICVA Link Awards in association with BT and supported by the Belfast Telegraph.

The Link Awards, run by NICVA, promote those who have helped the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. The awards were set up to recognise and promote good partnerships between charities and the business sector. Since then they have expanded to take in statutory bodies, schools, colleges, clubs and societies.

Certificate Presentation

All those who have made nominations and their nominees are invited to a certificate presentation, held this year at NICVA on 15 and 16 January 2008. This provides an excellent opportunity for charities to say ‘thank you’ and for companies to appreciate how their help makes such a difference.

Oscar night

The Gala, often referred to as the Charity Oscars, takes place in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, on 7 February 2008. The event incorporates fine cuisine, good music, entertainment and celebrities. The event will be hosted by UTV’s Paul Clarke, a long-time friend of the awards, and well known TV celebrities will present the prizes. Recent celebs have included Toyah Wilcox, Paula Radcliffe, Julie Peasgood, Patrick Mower (Rodney Blackstock in Emmerdale),Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street) and Shaun Williamson (Barry Evans in Eastenders).

So, if you’re in line for an Award it’s probably time to brush up on that acceptance speech if you want to avoid a ‘Gwynneth Paltrow moment’ on Gala Night.

Tickets

Tickets cost £60 per person or £540 for a table of 10. The gala is a great night to network and simply enjoy. As the Awards are in their 21^st year, look out for a particularly special celebration.

If you book before Friday 18 January you receive a 10% discount i.e. table of 10 = £540

They are available from Creative Events, 1 Dublin Road, Belfast BT2 7HB, email: link@creativeevents.co.uk or call 028 9023 5001.

Judging Panel

The judging panel is drawn from key figures in Northern Ireland society. This year’s panel is: Maeve Bell OBE, former chief executive of the General Consumer Council for NI; Anne Hailes, journalist and broadcaster; Jeremy Harbison, chair of NI Social Care Council and chair of the judging panel; Peter Johnston, controller of BBC NI; Martin Lindsay, editor of The Belfast Telegraph; and Seamus Murray, Department for Social Development.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of Link, initially by Camelot and latterly by BT, transformed the awards’ impact on the sector. The Belfast Telegraph became the media sponsor in 2000, which led to unprecedented media coverage. Sponsorship has undoubtedly enabled NICVA to raise the profile of the Link Awards to a wider audience and promote the value of partnerships to all sectors.