Steve Sinnott international solidarity award

Awarded for exemplary contributions to a school or branch or district's work on international solidarity.

Nominations for the 2025 Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award are now closed

Aims of award

The Award seeks to foster and celebrate significant and exemplary contributions to international solidarity at 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 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 groups of members who have made significant and exemplary contributions to international solidarity in their school or branch/district.

Criteria

  1. All lay members are eligible for the award with the exception of paid officials or staff of the Union and Executive members.
  2. 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. January 1 to December 31 2024 for Annual Conference 2025).
  3. 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 for Disabled Persons.
  4. Exemplary contributions to a school could be evaluated on the basis of the 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 or Holocaust Memorial Day or the development of school international solidarity strategies or projects. The                contribution should have made a significant impact in reshaping or adding new elements to pre-existing initiatives in order to be considered for the award.
  5. 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 2025

The panel for judging the Award comprise the members of the Executive’s International Committee at a meeting in the Spring Term.

Deadline

Submissions are now closed

2024 award:

Gavin Sharp, teacher and Pembrokeshire branch secretary

Gavin Sharp has worked tirelessly to grow the activist base across Wales since becoming an international solidarity officer. He is a strong advocate for Stand Up to Racism, speaking at rallies and demonstrations, and has been a pro-Palestine campaigner for many years. 

Gavin has driven delegations from Wales to Calais to volunteer with Care4Calais, sharing his experiences to dispel misinformation about refugees. Criticising the lack of action, he said: “We know it’s possible to give people safe passage, so why doesn’t the Government act?”

Gavin said he was “honoured” to accept the award: “I am on a journey of discovery with lots more to do. We need to speak out for those who can’t.”

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