Guidance for preparing a strong entry
The guidance on this page provides all the support & advice you need, to help your entry fulfill the requirements and stand out to give it the strongest chance of success!
Before you start
Ensure you have read the Rules of Entry and the Category and Criteria pages before you start writing your entry submission.
Writing your entry
Concentrate your efforts on the following:
- Explaining the reason you are nominating this project or person and why it/they should be a winner.
- Providing evidence of the impact of your project and the difference it has made.
- Demonstrating how the entry meets the judging criteria of the category you are entering.
- Follow the structure below when preparing your entry.
200 word summary
The following should form the basis of your 200 word summary (except category 8 – Photo Competition):
- What is the name of the project/group/person you are nominating?
- Why was the project set up and what/who did it involve (where applicable)?
- What was the impact of the project or the group’s/person’s involvement?
Full entry description
For categories 1 to 7, 9, 10 and 13 (see note below for exceptions within these categories)
Up to 600 words, laid out in the format specified below and written in the third person. This is important as this information will be used to produce the winners’ booklet and winners hall of fame should you win an award. See 2025 Hall of Fame here.
- Concept and aims – what did the project want to achieve and why?
- What happened – give a clear description of the project, what challenges were faced and how were these overcome? What steps were taken to achieve the project? What resources were drawn upon, who was involved and how was the project delivered?
- Results – Did the project fulfill its aims? How did the community/passengers benefit? How was the success of the project measured and what evidence is there to support that success? What has been the response of the community/rail passengers/partners/media? Did the project deliver any knock-on/unexpected results?
You must limit your total number of words to 600 over the three sections (e.g. 200 words for each), so plan your writing carefully and ensure that you do a final word count.
*Note: Exceptions to this word count are category 3. Community Creative Projects & Station Art and category 13. Railway 200 Legacy Award. – these both allow for 750 words to be submitted to allow for evidencing the group size, but please refer to the full category information for full details.
For categories 8, 11, 12 and 14
Category 8 – Photo Competition
- A Word document showing titles for each image
Category 11 – It’s Your Station
This must describe the work you have done or are doing to improve your station garden and environment. This must be written in the third person and set out in sections clearly labelled as follows:
- Community
- Gardening
- Arts & Heritage
- Environment & Sustainability
You must limit your total number of words to 600 over the four sections, so plan your writing carefully and ensure that you do a word count.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- There are no in-person judging visits for this category. Instead, to fully showcase your work to the category judges, we strongly encourage you to create and submit a video of your station, along with your supporting images and other documents.
- To assist with the above and to strengthen your entry further, make sure you consult the specific entry guidance in the ‘It’s Your Station entry toolkit’, compiled by the category judges themselves. Download the toolkit HERE .
Please refer to the category information for the full details
Category 12 – Outstanding Volunteer Contribution
- Who are you nominating?
- Describe their commitment and passion for community rail and show how they made an exceptional contribution to the group. Demonstrate what benefits they have brought to your project(s) or group and how that has impacted positively on the community.
- Include a photo of the person/group – action shots are preferable where possible.
You must limit your total number of words to 600 over the three sections (e.g. 200 words for each), so plan your writing carefully and ensure that you do a final word count.
Category 14 – Community Rail Network Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Rail
- Who are you nominating?
- Explain fully how the organisation or group has contributed to community rail over the last 12 months.
- Describe how their contribution has created positive sustainable change/impact for their communities and the railway.
- Include photos – action shots are preferable.
You must limit your total number of words to 600 over the three sections (e.g. 200 words for each), so plan your writing carefully and ensure that you do a final word count.
Additional Support
If you need further support about compiling or submitting your entry:
- email us at events@communityrail.org.uk
- join us at one of our online drop-in sessions – see schedule here.
- view our webinar ‘How to submit an outstanding awards entry’, held in July 2023. This includes case studies of previous winning entries and provides practical advice, hints and tips from some of our awards judges.
