Become a judge in the What's On Reading Awards

Help us celebrate the people, places and organisations that make Reading extraordinary. 

Do you love discovering great events, venues, businesses and cultural experiences in Reading?

We're looking for passionate, independent and enthusiastic volunteers to join our panel of judges for the What's On Reading Awards 2027.

The awards celebrate the people, organisations and experiences that make Reading a vibrant place to live, work and visit. As a judge, you'll play an important role in recognising excellence across the town's cultural, leisure, hospitality and visitor economy sectors.

About the Role

As a volunteer judge, you will:

  • Review award nominations within your allocated category or categories.
  • Assess entries against agreed judging criteria.
  • Participate in judging discussions and scoring meetings.
  • Help identify outstanding achievements and contributions.
  • Maintain confidentiality and impartiality throughout the judging process.

We're Looking For People Who:

  • Have an interest in Reading's arts, culture, leisure, hospitality, entertainment, community or visitor sectors.
  • Can make fair and objective assessments.
  • Are able to commit a small amount of time between January and March 2027.
  • Have good communication skills and enjoy working collaboratively.
  • Can declare any conflicts of interest and judge independently.

No previous judging experience is required. We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to help ensure the awards reflect the richness of our community.

Time Commitment

Approximately:

  • 4 to 8 hours reviewing nominations.
  • One online judging meeting.
  • Attendance at the Awards Ceremony (subject to availability).

What You'll Gain

  • The opportunity to support and celebrate local talent and achievement.
  • Behind-the-scenes involvement in one of Reading's flagship awards programmes.
  • Networking opportunities with local businesses, organisations and community leaders.
  • Experience in assessment, evaluation and decision-making.

Commitment to Fairness

We are committed to ensuring a transparent, inclusive and unbiased judging process. Judges will receive guidance and scoring criteria and will be required to declare any conflicts of interest.

Interested?

To express your interest, please send a short statement (up to 200 words) outlining:

  • Why you would like to be a judge.
  • Any relevant experience or interests.
  • The award categories you are most interested in supporting.

Applications close: 6th December 

For further information, contact: Damien Passmore (Damien.Passmore@reading.gov.uk) or Zsuzsi Lindsay (Zsuzsi.Lindsay@reading.gov.uk)