See Differently Awards – Frequently Asked Questions

Who can nominate?

We accept nominations from the public, including blind and partially sighted people, their friends and family, and those that work in the sight loss sector. The nominator and nominee must be over 18 years of age. RNIB employees are not eligible to be nominated but can nominate any other individual. However, ECLOs and RNIB Volunteers can be nominated.

How do I nominate someone?

Completing our online nomination form which can be found at the RNIB website.

By completing a nomination form you are consenting to our Terms and conditions; inc T’s&C’s

To request an accessible Microsoft Word version of the nomination form please email: [email protected].

Can I nominate after the closing date?

No. We can't accept any entries for RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 received after midnight on the advertised closing date.

How are nominations shortlisted?

Nominations are first shortlisted by an internal RNIB team to achieve a list of three National Finalists for each category. This list is then judged by an independent panel to select the overall winners in each category.

All nominations will be shortlisted based on what nominees have done or achieved in line with the category criteria. You may only nominate an individual once, but you may nominate as many different people as you like across the award categories.

When will we be in touch?

Once a nomination has been submitted you should receive a thank you message to confirm we’re received your nomination.

We may get in contact with the nominee via email or by phone to clarify details of their nomination. This is to help us with the shortlisting process. Therefore, it is important to let your nominee know they have been put forward for an award!

We will use the additional details and updated nomination to support the entry and to illustrate the nominee’s achievements if they are shortlisted as a Finalist. It will also be the basis of any press releases that we send to local media.

Any shortlisted nominees we contact will be given clear information about what data we have been given by the nominator including why and how it will be used going forward. All shortlisted nominees will be required to sign an RNIB media consent form to continue with the RNIB See Differently Awards process.

Who will read my nominations and select the National Finalists?

An experienced team of RNIB staff will consider every nomination and create a shortlist of National Finalists for each category.

How many National Finalists are there?

Three National Finalists will be shortlisted for each of the seven awards open for public nominations, so 21 National Finalists will be announced in total.

When will I find out if I have been selected as a National Finalist?

You will be notified by the end of March if you have been shortlisted, and invited to our awards ceremony taking place on the 21 May 2024.

What will I need to provide if I am shortlisted?

1. A signed RNIB media consent form. RNIB may wish to use, quotes, photos, and videos supplied as part of the nomination to illustrate their achievements. These may be used but not limited to RNIB’s online channels (eg websites and social media), printed publicity materials (eg posters, leaflets and flyers) and in the media.
   Please note; we will not provide any media with the nominee’s private contact details without gaining their permission.
2. A photo. Finalists will need to send RNIB (when requested) a high resolution (minimum 3MB) photo of themselves.
   Photos should feature the individual or team being nominated, showing no more than your waist up and everyone’s faces should be visible and clear. Team photos should be a landscape format.

If I am shortlisted, what will you share with the media?

RNIB will send a press release about you and your achievements to the media in your local area. You will be able to see the press release in advance to approve your quote. We may ask you to take part in interviews for newspapers, radio and/or television to talk about your work and nomination.

What information will be included about me in the event programme?

If you are shortlisted as a National Finalist, RNIB will include a brief summary of your work and nomination, along with photos of all National Finalists, in the RNIB See Differently Awards event brochure.

Who selects the winner from the shortlisted Finalists?

The winners will be selected from the shortlist by a panel of independent judges. The full judging panel’s details will be available on our website.

How many overall winners are there?

Judges will select seven overall National winners. The overall winners will be selected by a judging panel from the 21 shortlisted National Finalists. There will be one winner for each category.

When will the overall winners be announced?

Overall winners will be announced at the RNIB See Differently Awards Ceremony on 21 May 2024.

What happens if I/we win an award on the night?

Winners will be invited to collect their award when it’s announced. You will have the opportunity to say a few words (limited to one minute) when accepting your award if you want to, but this is entirely up to you. If you are a team, you may wish to nominate a lead member to say a few words.

How will Finalists know what to do on the evening of the event?

Finalists will be fully briefed in advance of the event on the event timings and processes so that you know what to expect on the day. RNIB staff will also be available to support Finalists on the day.

What happens once I/we leave the stage?

Winners will be led away by a member of the RNIB team to be photographed with their award. You will be asked to do some short interviews at the end of the event with RNIB staff for videos/audio that will be added to RNIB’s website, radio and social media channels.

If I am a winner, what will you share with the media?

RNIB will send a press release about you to local and sector media to celebrate your success in winning a prestigious award. A story may therefore appear in the media about your achievement. We may ask you to take part in interviews for newspapers, radio and/or television to talk about your work and nomination story.

Will I receive an invitation?

We will send all National Finalists an invitation to the ceremony via email and you will need to complete an RSVP form online. All National Finalists are expected to attend the ceremony.

When and where will the awards ceremony take place?

The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 ceremony will take place on Tuesday 21 May 2024, at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. National Finalists will be updated at the time you need to arrive.

Please confirm the event timings before booking your travel.

How do I get to the ceremony?

Public transport (train, bus and tube) details will be given with your invitation to the event. The RNIB See Differently Awards event will be held at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London.

How many people will be at the awards ceremony?

There will be approximately 300 guests in attendance.

We are a team Finalist, how many of us can attend?

Due to limited venue capacity, a maximum of three members of the team will be invited to attend the ceremony. We will leave it up to your team to decide who will attend.

I am an individual National Finalist, can I bring a guest?

Yes! Individual National Finalists can bring one guest to attend the ceremony with them.

What will happen at the ceremony?

There will be a professional host for the RNIB See Differently Awards ceremony along with inspiring guest speakers.

The awards ceremony is an evening event with a drinks reception, three-course dinner and post-event celebration.

Please confirm the event timings with a member of the team at [email protected] before booking your travel.

What food and drink will be served at the ceremony?

A three-course dinner will be served to all guests with meat and vegetarian options available. Please do let us know in advance if you have any additional dietary requirements and we will try our best to accommodate. Alcoholic and soft drinks will be served with the meal and during the drinks reception, ID will be required at the bar.

Will the awards ceremony be photographed and filmed?

There will be a professional photographer and camera operators filming and photographing the RNIB See Differently Awards ceremony.

By attending, you're granting RNIB the right to film and photograph you and to use the footage and photography produced for the promotion of the charity and its mission in all media, worldwide, in perpetuity. Photographers and camera operatives will be working in all parts of the building throughout the event.

If you do not wish to be photographed, filmed or otherwise recorded, please remove yourself from the location they are working in during the course of the ceremony. By remaining in the vicinity of the photographers and camera operators you are giving RNIB your consent to photograph and film you.

What is your coronavirus policy?

All our events meet current safety restrictions in line with UK government guidance. If you have coronavirus or are feeling unwell please do not attend the event.