Headline Jury Award for
Social Inclusion
The Headline Jury Award for Social Inclusion is a special distinction, separate from the ten main award categories. This award is conferred exclusively by the Expert Judging Panel, who select one outstanding project from across all submissions received for ESSA 2026.
The award recognises an initiative that goes beyond sector-specific excellence to demonstrate an extraordinary, measurable contribution to social inclusion. The jury looks for projects that have genuinely transformed the lives of people at risk of exclusion by improving access to services and actively bringing them closer to fuller participation in society.
What the jury looks for
Depth of Social Inclusion Impact
The jury prioritises projects that have produced a profound, documented change in the lives of the people they serve. Strong candidates will go beyond service delivery to demonstrate genuine shifts in how individuals experience inclusion — whether through greater access to support, active social participation, or a measurable reduction in isolation and marginalisation.
Reach & Equity
This award recognises initiatives that deliberately seek out those hardest to reach — not only the populations most visible or easiest to engage. The jury considers the geographical scope of the project, the diversity of the people it serves, and whether it addresses the intersecting disadvantages that often compound social exclusion.
Participation & Co-creation
True social inclusion means involving people as active agents, not passive recipients. The jury values projects where the people most affected have had a meaningful voice in shaping the service — from its design and delivery through to evaluation — ensuring that the work genuinely reflects lived experience.
Automatically considered from your application
There is no separate application process for this award. Every project submitted to ESSA 2026 is automatically considered by the judging panel. If your initiative demonstrates an outstanding contribution to social inclusion, the jury may select it for this special recognition — regardless of which category you applied under.