Find out who’s in the 2026 shortlist

Celebrating the best campaigns and campaigners

Each year, SMK celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners. Our interest is in finding those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively, and courageously.

What do we mean when we say campaigning?

We define campaigning as any activity designed to create social change such as:

Changes in the law or policy – how things work

Changes to a public service – how people are supported

Changes in people’s behaviour or attitudes – how people think

A campaign could be aimed at righting a wrong, protecting an asset, upholding a right, or holding a body to account.

What they should all have in common is the determination to secure a specific change that will make things better – whether for a group of people, a local neighbourhood or for every single one of us.

Please read here for more information about the Awards criteria and judging process. 

Nominations closed on Friday 6 February and will open again for the Awards 2027 at the end of November 2026. Sign up for the SMK newsletter for updates on all things SMK National Campaigner Awards here. 

Award categories

Long Term Achievement Award

The winner of this award will be announced on the day.

 

Creative Change-makers Award

This award recognises where creative interventions such as visual arts, design and performance have contributed to social change.

Best Use of Law

Best Use of Law: Celebrating a campaign that has successfully used the law to drive change in the UK – whether using existing legislation to leverage rights and protections or using strategic litigation to strengthen existing or create new legislation.

Amplifying Voices

Amplifying Voices:  A campaign led by, or that gives voice and profile to, people who are least heard. It encompasses any group within the protected characteristics of age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, and pregnancy and maternity.

Best Community Climate & Nature Action

This award celebrates a community coming together for good in their local area to lead a campaign or grassroots action that makes a difference in fighting climate change and protecting the environment.

The Big Green Week logo

This category has been co-created by SMK and The Climate Coalition's Great Big Green Week.

David & Goliath

This Award is all about the little guys. It celebrates individuals or small campaign groups that take on much bigger organisations and challenge vested power.

Sponsored by Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, in memory of Lord David Shutt.

Joseph-Rowntree-Reform-Trust

Seek to bring about significant changes in the political system, making it more accountable, democratic, and transparent and to rebalance power for the well-being of society.
www.jrrt.org.uk

Young Campaigner Award

This award celebrates campaigns instigated, delivered, or led by a person or people between the ages of 18 and 25.

Campaigner of the Year

This award celebrates an outstanding campaigner, change-maker, agitator or disruptor who has worked effectively, creatively, and courageously, whether locally or nationally, over the past year.

Sponsored by the Tenacious Awards, supported by Changing Ideas, the philanthropic foundation of David Graham, and managed by Philanthropy Matters.

Tenacious-awards

The Tenacious Awards support campaigners with true tenacity, working to right injustice.
www.tenaciousawards.org

Campaign of the Year

This award celebrates the outstanding campaign of the past year – not just because of what they won, but also how they won it.

Best Consumer Rights Campaign

To recognise campaigns that successfully challenge poor or unfair consumer practice, or that successfully promote or strengthen consumer rights and protection.

Nominate here

Sponsored by Which?

WHICH LOGO

A charity that offers free consumer advice and campaigns for fairer practices.
www.which.co.uk

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