Camille Pissarro, the Impressionist painter, observed that “blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” He was commenting on his art and the insight it afforded to him of the beauty of his surroundings, but for me, this week, it sums up how I feel after reading a hundred people’s insights in the long-listing for the Stephen Lloyd Awards.
After Stephen died, too young, in 2015, some of his friends came together to form an Awards scheme in his name. One of his many strengths was to find people with madly innovative ideas for social or environmental good that, with a bit of support, might just work. The Stephen Lloyd Awards seeks to do just that.
It brings together a community of people from all walks of life willing to give a little time to help these butterflies emerge. Backed by funding from the Bates Wells Foundation and others it makes grants to a handful of winners and smaller support grants to finalists, once a year. Its biggest value, though, lies in how it musters the support of 200 or so individuals and organisations, and encourages, informs and problem-solves for these early-stage great ideas.
On Thursday and Friday two of us worked through not just every application, but also the scoring from over a hundred of our Awards Supporters. Applications go to scorers in batches of six, with each one being scored five or so times. Their scores are compiled, moderated for those that are tending to score high or low compared to the others, and we use this to guide the selection of the long list of twenty. All applicants don’t just get acknowledgement, but also feedback from scorers’ comments and ideas – would that more grant-makers could do this as a reward for the effort of applying…
So what have these “blessed” – the award applicants – seen this year ? Many have built on their own experiences, and the need they see around them, and responded with sometimes disarmingly simple ideas – often brilliant in that simplicity. Areas of focus are reflections on the need we see around us. In addition to some great ideas around waste, and environmental impact, I can see two main human themes: survivorship and how allies are key to that; and how education and access to it strengthen people facing challenges.
As last year there are more on bereavement than in prior years, and how those experiences can be faced, and even turned to good for others. Children and young people are certainly a key concern, from those caught up in County Lines to those voiceless because of disability or neurodivergence, by gender stereotyping, or by cultural heritage and communities lacking aspiration. Effects on children of parents in the Criminal Justice System is a clear worry, and how we can make volunteering more inclusive and get more involved is also there in force. There’s a family and community aspect, too, with concern for those isolated by location or circumstances, and a desire not to leave people outside.
For those watching the news with concern or sadness, here is hope. It is the hope born of experience, but also Pissarro’s blessing of being able to see beautiful things – great ideas that could make a big difference to others – in humble situations. I look forward to being blown away by the shortlisting interviews in two weeks’ time – with our amazing and diverse panel – and to seeing the final ten at the Awards evening in mid June.
Jim Clifford, Founder and CEO
