Marg McGee Community Awards

The Marg McGee Community Awards have been set up in 2024 to replace our long standing It's Our Community awards.

These bi-annual awards will have an increased annual budget to benefit a greater number of charities and will be open to individuals and organisations looking for support towards community initiatives.

Renamed as the Marg McGee Community Awards, in memory of our friend and colleague who championed our It's Our community Awards, they will celebrate the passion and dedication of individuals and groups looking to benefit the community and champion the smaller initiatives often overlooked or struggling for support.

The awards have just closed for judging but will re-open early 2025. Judging of this years' awards will take place during November with awards announced early December.

The annual award evening will be held each January with the applications officially open once again in February. For practicality we will leave the application form open all year with clear information about judging and announcement dates.

2024 Successful Applicants

Erin Arts Centre	Mothers' Union, Sodor and Man	Junior Achievement	Isle of Man Volleyball
Isle of Man Art Society	Thie ny Shee project	Men in Sheds Port Erin	Isle of Man Walking Football (Reg Charity)
Cruse Bereavement Support Isle of Man	Victim Support Isle of Man	Onchan Pensioners Social Club	Peel Swimming Club
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospice Care at Home Trust	1st Marown Scouts Group	The Big Table Café	Special Olympics Isle of Man
Heroes On The Water	Girlguiding Isle of Man	Western Men In Sheds (charity in Peel)	Breast Cancer Now Volunteering in the Isle of Man Reg: 1200
Isle Stand up to Suicide	Isle of Play	Boston B2N Netball Team	Joey Dunlop Foundation

How to apply

Applying for the Marg McGee Community Awards is easy. Just make sure your application is submitted before the end date. When entries open a link will be made available on this page to a simple online form.

If your idea is any of the following:

a physical improvement that you can touch.
likely to make real, tangible results that you can see.
demonstrates fresh, bold thinking and is innovative enough to inspire others.

We'd love to receive your application.

Applications for 2025

Submit your application by completing the form below:

Are you part of a group or society? if so, enter the name here

Project contact name *

Contact email address *

Contact telephone number *

Project location *

What financial contribution would you like to apply for? *

What is the total budget of the project

What will the funds be used for? *

If appropriate, do you have permission from the land owner?

Yes

No

N/A

Terms and conditions can be found at https://www.manxtelecom.com/media/tulfs4kh/itsourcommunity_t-cs_sept2023.pdf

Consent for storing submitted data *

By submitting this application, I/we agree that I/we have read the terms and conditions and Manx Telecom may contact me/us in relation to the application and that the project and any photographs that I/we submit may be publicised to promote the awards to a wider audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Manx Telecom launch this scheme?

Manx Telecom wants to contribute to the development and sustainability of society, by enabling its customers, local people and employees to make a difference. The big idea behind the Marg McGeee Community Awards, and previous It’s Our Community programme, is this: if you could do one small thing to make your community a better place, what would it be? By enabling small groups to make a difference across the Island we’re hoping that the collective impact will be much greater. In other words, it all adds up.

Who runs the Marg McGee Community Awards?

The Marg McGee Community Awards is assessed and judged by a panel of judges, including representatives from Manx Telecom.

When are applications open until?

Applications for the next Awards will open in February 2025.

When will applications be judged?

2024 applications are being judged in November with the successful applicants notified shortly after.

Application Process

Can individuals apply?

Yes, but you must be able to demonstrate how it will involve others and benefit the community.

Is there an age limit for people applying?

Young people under the age of 18 can apply, but you must have the written consent of a parent/carer or endorsement from a charity or recognised community organisation.

Do you have to be a registered charity to apply?

No - you don’t need to have a constitution or be part of a registered charity. You just need to be part of a community. If you’re an organisation, we do need it to be a not-for-profit or an amenity group, in order for you to be eligible for an award. In certain cases we might need to ask for additional information, just to make sure we’re happy with the quality of the application and how eligible you are.

When will we find out if we’ve been accepted?

The successful applicants will be informed via email by the It’s Our Community team.

Is it possible to submit more than one application?

Individuals or groups may make numerous applications provided they are for different projects. Multiple applications for the same project will not be considered.

Will the Marg McGee Community Awards fund large projects and will it ‘match fund’?

Marg McGee Community Awards funding is limited to applications wishing to receive a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £1,000, but is not designed to provide top-up funding for larger projects. Applications for match funding will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Will Marg McGee Community Awards pay for any necessary professional fees e.g. consultancy work?

While Marg McGee Community Awards realises that professional input can sometimes be necessary when you’re trying to make a change happen, these awards are designed for people who want to take things into their own hands, and make tangible changes themselves.