Viva’s recycling campaign earns Rossendale Council national acclaim

Viva’s work with Rossendale Borough Council saw the agency take home a national Public Sector award at the PRCA DARE Grand Prix 2023. 

The Lancashire agency’s ‘Check Before You Chuck’ recycling behaviour change campaign won the regional accolade for the council in June, before being shortlisted alongside all regional winners at the Grand Prix. 

Viva was shortlisted with five other finalists in the Public Sector category, including Transport for London, before coming out on top on the night at The Westin London City.

Tony Garner, Viva’s founder and MD, said: “This is the biggest accolade yet for our ‘Check Before You Chuck’ campaign in partnership with Rossendale Borough Council, as the PRCA DARE Grand Prix pitted regional winners from across the country against one another. 

“Winning a national Public Sector award tells me we’re delivering on our promise of storytelling with impact to clients and staying true to our values of working with clients that deliver social good, especially initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment. 

“Huge congratulations have to go to Jac Jordan and the Rossendale team at Viva for turning post-it notes and brainstorms into real, measurable impact through a creative behaviour change PR campaign that smashed all of its targets.

“This was by no means the biggest campaign budget or the biggest name, but serves as proof that great ideas and hard work still stand out, especially in our specialism of Public Sector PR.”

Rob Huntington, chief executive at Rossendale Borough Council, added: “We were thrilled to see our 'Check Before You Chuck' campaign win another award – this time it was national recognition for the effective behaviour change the campaign helped to bring about in our community. 

“When you educate and inform your audience with clear, impactful messaging, people want to and will do the right thing.”

The PRCA DARE Grand Prix 2023 ceremony recognises and celebrates the very highest standards in public relations. 

The judges said: “It deals with an issue that is important to everyone but the message around recycling still needs driving home. By showing that recycling should be done whatever age you are, and that everyone should be involved in the campaign, was a positive move. It is therefore no surprise that targets were beaten.

“Just brilliant! Love this. From the Binfluencers and Binthusiasts to the campaign name, this a well thought through and fantastically executed campaign.”

Regional winners from Wales, The Midlands, North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, The North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South East and South West came together on the night for Grand Prix winners to be announced. 

The full list of PRCA DARE Grand Prix winners can be viewed online here.