Rank Memorial Award Winners 2023

It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners of the Rank Memorial Award 2023.

This year, the award criteria focused on the ‘collective power’ of networks or communities, operating in the social justice or community development space. As usual, applicants were invited to explore the benefits and opportunities of working collectively, and to highlight the impact this delivers, looking across the globe for exceptional models of practice.  

The award is highly competitive, and we are delighted to announce that following careful consideration, the selection committee awarded three grants: £6,000 each to Harvinder Poonian – Zam Zam and Josh Day, and £8,000 to Laura Charleton.

Harvinder Poonian and Zam Zam

Harvinder Poonian and Zam Zam are the founders of ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities, a CIC focused on youth support and empowerment in Leicestershire. They will be visiting Sweden to explore how youth services and community networks support young people. Their project, ‘It Takes a Village to Raise a Child’, aims to learn from Sweden’s holistic approach to youth development, including the role of youth centres, schools, local authorities and community organisations.

During their two-week visit, they plan to connect with youth organisations including Mixgården youth centre, as well as schools, community groups and local services. They hope to bring back learning and best practice to strengthen their youth leadership programmes and share insights with the wider RankNet community.

Josh Day

Josh Day, current Time to Shine Leader and Projects Administrator at The Food Foundation, will be heading to Palestine to visit SkatePal, an organisation that uses skateboarding to create safe, inclusive spaces and support young people through education, equipment and community-led projects. During his visit, Josh will spend time in areas where SkatePal has projects, including Asira Al-Shamaliya, Ramallah and Al-Bireh, learning more about their approach and the impact of their work.

Josh hopes to contribute to SkatePal’s activities by supporting skate lessons and community projects, while also creating a short documentary film to share the stories of the people involved and highlight how skateboarding can foster identity, connection and belonging.

Laura Charleton

Laura Charleton, Charity Manager at Radio City Cash for Kids, will be travelling to the USA to explore how organisations and communities are helping people overcome barriers to opportunity and improve their life chances. During her 25-day visit, Laura will spend time in New York, Boston, San Diego and California, learning from youth programmes, family support services and academic researchers exploring poverty and economic mobility.

Laura hopes to understand what approaches work, how communities are empowered and how theory can be translated into practical support. By bringing these learnings back to the UK, she hopes to share best practice with the Rank community and explore new ways to support young people and families facing inequality.

We would like to congratulate Harvinder, Josh and Laura on their successful applications, and we look forward to hearing from them during and after their travels.