The Helen Darbishire Award 2025

The Helen Darbishire Award (previously the Access Info Impact Award) recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, anti-corruption, and/or government accountability.

By celebrating exemplary achievements of civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners across Europe, the award aims to highlight the importance of the right to information and inspire others to utilise this powerful tool.

Through this award, Access Info Europe and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) honour the impressive work and achievements of Helen Darbishire in championing access to information globally.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Nominations must show how the right to information was used to have a tangible impact on advancing human rights, environmental protection, anti-corruption and/or government accountability.
• Impact can be demonstrated through various mechanisms, such as research, political advocacy, litigation, journalistic investigations, or campaigns.
• The nominee’s work must have been conducted in the past three years.
• This award is open to individuals and groups working in Europe, including civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners.
• Both self-nomination and third-party nominations are accepted.

Please fill out the form here by  Friday 11th July 2025.