Surrey-Based Livewire PR shortlisted for three categories in the 2012 CIPR PRide Awards

Aug. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Livewire Public Relations, based in Surbiton, Surrey, has been shortlisted for not just one, but three separate categories in the 2012 CIPR PRide Awards! The categories are Best Not-for-Profit, Best Crisis Comms and Best Campaign £10,000 and Under for the campaign Save our ACE Centre - Giving a voice to people who struggle to communicate. Over 1,000 entries for the awards were received from freelancers, consultancies and in-house teams across twelve UK regions and nations.

The ACE Centre works with people who have communication difficulties due to a physical impairment, language disorder or learning disability. Providing help and expertise in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) The ACE Centre’s team of therapists, teachers and technicians offer a range of core specialist services including assessments, equipment loans, training and information, as well as undertaking project and consultancy work for local and central statutory services.

However, as a result of government cuts, the ACE Centre was due to close in June this year, depriving some of the 260,000 children and adults in the UK who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication of invaluable support. In a last attempt to keep its doors open, in early April The ACE Centre turned to Livewire PR.

Livewire PR immediately sprang into action to raise public awareness about the government cuts and changes to funding streams that were forcing The ACE Centre and hundreds of other charities and specialist services across the country to close. Securing coverage on ITV and The BBC, including an opportunity on Prime Minister’s Question Time, local Oxfordshire and special educational needs press, Livewire were able to draw attention to The ACE Centre’s plight which resulted in securing new government funding, allowing The Centre to remain open.

Commenting on the work that Livewire PR did for The ACE Centre, Bill Nimmo, Chair of Trustees at the ACE Centre Advisory Trust said: “Sound crisis comms advice coupled with stunning coverage on the BBC, ITN and in regional Oxford and special educational needs trade media generated by  Livewire Public Relations, brought the desperate financial plight of The ACE Centre, a charity which supports people with complex difficulties who struggle to communicate, to the personal attention of David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Question Time.  Livewire’s outstanding work has been instrumental in securing the crucial government funding we needed to avert the centre’s imminent closure.” He concludes: “The team at Livewire did a truly outstanding job. As a trustee I also have to fit in my day job. Without their support this brilliant outcome would not have been possible.”

CIPR CEO, Jane Wilson MCIPR, commented: “The CIPR PRide Awards celebrate the best PR and communications campaigns and teams from the profession across the UK. To be shortlisted for a CIPR PRide Award demonstrates exemplary achievement, impact and value – immediately putting your work in the spotlight. The sheer number of high quality entries received this year, especially when things are still pretty tough out there economically, is testament to a thriving nationwide industry.”

The judging process for the PRide Awards is rigorous with a national panel of industry experts assessing the shortlisted entries and choosing the winners. The 2012 Chairs of Judges, Gill Dandy FCIPR, Senior Consultant at The Centre for Strategy and Communication, and Chris Genasi FCIPR, Senior Consultant at APCO Worldwide, assisted in ensuring a fair and consistent judging process. The winner will be announced 28th September.