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. Yes, the household names of the charity world do a vital job in so many aspects of our society. But it's 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.

The five winning charities will each be awarded: £6,000 prize money; a brand new PC, donated by Trams; a half-day consultancy session plus follow-up support for up to six months on strategy, impact, governance, leadership, campaigning or collaboration, courtesy of NCVO's new consultancy service; a tailored package of media services from Media Trust.

For further information and to enter the competition, click herean Charity Awards 2008.