It's never been more important to nurture innovation and excellence among smaller charities, which are so often overshadowed by the big players of the voluntary sector. It is typically the smaller organisations that have the fresh thinking, flexibility and reach into communities that make the crucial difference to people's lives.

For the past 16 years, the Guardian Charity Awards have set out to showcase best practice among small and medium-sized charities and help them win the profile and funding they need to move forward. To the big players, the message is: sorry, this is one set of awards you cannot enter.

The awards are aimed at charities delivering practical solutions to present-day problems. So long as the objective of your charity is improving social wellbeing in its broadest sense, and provided other entry criteria are met, nothing is ruled out.

How to enter
Download an application form from the link on the left of this page.To request more application forms call 01727 898146, or email charityawardsapplication@guardian.co.uk

Application forms should be submitted by 5pm on Friday August 1 2008