Civic Trust Awards Assessment Process
All Assessors must provide feedback on each scheme visited, together with a recommendation as to whether a scheme should be considered by National Panel members for an Award or Commendation.
Awards are given to projects that make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment. Award level schemes must demonstrate excellence in architecture or design, sustainability, inclusive design and make a positive social, cultural, environmental or economic benefit to the local community.
Commendations are given to projects that make a considerable achievement to the quality and appearance of the environment. Commendation level schemes must demonstrate a good standard of architecture or design, sustainability, inclusive design and make a positive social, cultural, environmental or economic benefit to the local community.
All schemes which do not meet the standard required for an Award or Commendation should be deemed unsuccessful.
Upholding Standards
All schemes recommended by Assessor Teams will be reviewed by the Civic Trust Awards National Panel, who consider all schemes in a National context. On this basis, the National Panel reserves the right to uphold, promote or demote any recommendations made by Assessor Teams.
Assessors should ensure that the schemes recommended to National Panel for an Award or Commendation should be of sufficient quality and deserving of national recognition. The scheme is equally as encouraging of small community projects as it is of large prestigious schemes delivering community benefit. However, we have seen a number of schemes referred to the panel that are falling short of national standards. Should you require further guidance on the standards required for recommendations to National Panel, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Assessor Teams
Each Assessor Team comprise of:
• Architect Assessor
• Inclusive Design Advisor
• Local Community Advisor
• Local Authority Representative
Entries
The Civic Trust Awards receive entries from applicants via the CTA on-line application system which opens in July each year. Application documentation and supporting documents will then be available to view by our Assessor Teams after the closing date for entries, Wednesday 14th September 2011. We will then notify Assessors of the names and contact details of the other Assessor Team members.
The Local Authority Representative normally co-ordinates assessments, arranging a mutually convenient date and time with all Team members for visits to take place. If there is no Local Authority Representative available for a specific area, we will make these arrangements and liaise with members of the Assessment Team.
The Assessment Deadline
All assessment visits need to be completed and Assessor feedback reports uploaded online for each scheme before the deadline of Wednesday 16th November 2011. Assessment feedback should be provided by all members of the Assessment Team individually.
Please be aware when completing your feedback report that some applicants will request a summary of their scheme assessment should their application be unsuccessful.
Local Community Advisor Role
The Civic Trust Awards relies on the involvement of all our volunteer assessors and are thoroughly grateful for all their support.
The Local Community Advisor does not have to be qualified in architecture, planning or built environment related subjects, but someone who has a passion about their community. The Local Advisor is responsible for representing the local community for its collective opinion of the scheme entered into the Awards. The community for each scheme differs; it can be the scheme users, the people who pass it daily or simply people on the street. On the day of assessing the Local Advisor needs to have a clear idea of what local people think of the scheme.
Assessor responsibility and duty to the Civic Trust Awards
• Uphold the integrity of the Civic Trust Awards
• Comply with timetables and procedures relating to the assessments undertaken for the scheme
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• Maintain the consistency of the assessment process
• Promote and advocate the improvement in architecture and the built environment
• Actively participate in the assessment visit
• Provide local opinion to other members of the assessment team on the scheme visited
• Assess allocated sites within specified timeframes
• Liaise directly with allocated Assessor Team members
• Undertake Assessments in line with Civic Trust Award Assessment Criteria
• Provide written feedback on each of the schemes assessed
• Comply with Civic Trust Awards assessment procedures and policies at all times
If you would like to volunteer for the scheme as a Local Community Advisor please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
