Districts and branches are invited to submit nominations for the Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award, which recognises members who have made exemplary contributions to their school, branch, or district’s work on international solidarity.
Aims of the award
The Award seeks to foster and celebrate significant and exemplary contributions to international solidarity at the branch/district/school level. The Award aims to:
- develop effective Union/school leadership and a whole branch/district/school approach to international solidarity;
- recognise the international solidarity work of lay members on an ongoing basis;
- acknowledge and celebrate existing good practice in international solidarity work at the branch/district/school level;
- build on existing international solidarity work in branches, districts and schools;
- support and share international solidarity work in the regions and the Nations;
- encourage innovation and new developments in international solidarity work in schools and in Union activity;
- provide a mechanism for celebrating the work of the Union’s International Solidarity Officers; and
- showcase ways in which teachers use the curriculum to promote and encourage pupils to be involved in international solidarity.
The Award will be granted to an individual member or group of members who have made significant and exemplary contributions to international solidarity in their school or branch/district.
Criteria
- All lay members are eligible for the award except paid officials or staff of the Union and Executive members.
- The activities for which the member has been nominated should have occurred in the calendar year preceding the year of the Annual Conference (e.g. 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025).
- Exemplary contributions to a district or branch could include increasing participation and involvement of members, for example, through activities related to international solidarity and new branch/district/school events such as World Teachers’ Day or International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
- Exemplary contributions to a school can be evaluated based on their impact on pupils, teachers, and other members of the school community. These may have occurred in conjunction with pre-existing initiatives such as, for example, International Women’s Day, Holocaust Memorial Day or the development of school international solidarity strategies or projects. The contribution should have had a significant impact in reshaping or introducing new elements to existing initiatives to be considered for the award.
- The National Awards Panel (see below) will give particular consideration to nominations which demonstrate innovation and initiatives in promoting international solidarity in a school or district/branch.
Judging panel
The panel for judging the Award comprise the members of the Executive’s International Committee at a meeting in the Spring Term.
How to apply
Complete an application form using our nomination form
Deadline
Please submit a completed nomination form to international@neu.org.uk by the close of business on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
