EFDS manager collects Inspiring Communicator prize at CharityComms Awards
Last night (26 November 2015), Sarah Marl, Marketing and Communications Manager for the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), was delighted to receive an Inspiring Communicator award at the CharityComms Awards 2015. Sarah was chosen for her continued work to encourage better practice in inclusive marketing communications within sport and physical activity.
The London event hosted communication professionals from across the country. Sarah was one of 12 winners chosen by CharityComms, the membership network for communications professionals working in UK charities.
CharityComms helps raise the standards of communications across the sector, to fly the flag for communications as a vital strategic function at the heart of charities, and to connect communications professionals through sharing best practice.
Sarah has many years’ experience in marketing communications, dedicating many years to her EFDS role. Her desire lies in driving changes across sport and physical activity for disabled people. On a daily basis, Sarah helps providers to reach more people, through their wide variety of marketing practices.
After receiving the Inspiring Communicator Award, Sarah said:
“It’s a lovely surprise for doing something which I care passionately about. My team and I work hard to ensure more people share our goals and ensure disabled people can access more opportunities through better communications.
The Award is great recognition for the whole team’s ongoing desire to change mindsets and behaviour.”
In 2014, EFDS released the successful release of EFDS’s Inclusive Communications Guide and most recently, an animation to complement the Guide's principles.
The Inclusive Communications Guide aims to address the main communication barriers that many people experience in sport and physical activity, which also stop disabled people from accessing some opportunities. It was highly commended at the Excellence in Diversity Awards 2015.
Sarah’s team has increased in the last 12 months and she now manages two other staff. She encourages her own team to learn and share the better practices.
Together they hope more professionals will embed the principles in their own work, so more people do not miss out in marketing communications.
Always keen to learn new practices herself, Sarah enjoys hearing from other experts in the field. She notes in particular the ongoing support from Catherine Grinyer at Big Voice Communications.
You can read more on this subject on Sarah’s blog on inclusive communications.
EFDS’s communication resources are backed by Sarah’s work in supporting people with their questions and concerns. For more information on EFDS’s work in this area, please email Sarah on SMarl@efds.co.uk.
