The winners of the 2023 Vaisey Awards were announced at The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday 15 October. In a new departure, two-stage funding was awarded to four projects, all with important social implications: for pre-school-age children, teenagers, inter-generational groups and refugees & asylum seekers.

The main award winner was Gloucester library, with £1,000. The three other shortlisted libraries, Charlton Kings, Cirencester and Matson, were all awarded £500. Cheques for half the award in each case (half later to support project implementation) were presented by prize-winning Irish novelist, Claire Kilroy. There’s more on all four libraries’ projects, plus further pictures from the awards event, here. Unfortunately, Madeleine Phelps, winner of the Young Person’s £100 Award, was unable to attend the event. The Vaisey Trust is delighted to congratulate and recognise the efforts of all participants in this year’s competition and looks forward to expanding next year’s to embrace a cohort of school libraries too. Watch this space for more news!

 

John Dougherty, Chair of Judges.