Glovers take prize, hands down

Virtual reality aids autistic students in award‑winning communications initiative​

The Worshipful Company of Glovers has won the 2025 Clarity in Charity Communications Award for its inspiring initiative, “Virtual Reality and Assistive Technology – finding a way for young people with autism” video competition.

The award, founded by the Company of Communicators in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass, recognises outstanding communications by non‑professionals supporting the livery movement and the wider charitable sector.

The judging panel praised the Glovers’ project at Sybil Elgar School for autistic students in Ealing for its innovative use of virtual reality headsets and haptic gloves, giving pupils a powerful new way to express their experiences and aspirations. They highlighted the campaign’s creativity, its strong sense of narrative, and its ability to communicate the importance of assistive technology in a crucial area of neurodiversity particularly in raising the profile of educating physics in schools.​

The judges were particularly impressed by the way the project helped develop pupils’ co‑ordination and confidence, supporting a safer environment at school while also building skills for the transition to adult life. They also noted the initiative’s potential to be replicated by other schools, demonstrating how relatively modest resources can deliver communications with real clarity, impact, and long‑term benefit.​

At the awards ceremony at Grocers’ Hall on 29 January 2026, Master Communicator Jason Groves and Master Glazier Tim McNally jointly presented the specially commissioned glass roundel ​to the Worshipful Company of Glovers. The Master Glazier expressed the hope that the Company would treasure the roundel created by artist Emma Butler‑Cole Aiken as a symbol of the Glaziers’ craft and of the strength of the partnership between the Glaziers and Communicators.​ 

Caption: Left to right: Master Glazier Tim McNally, representatives of the Worshipful Company of Glovers, Master Communicator Jason Groves

This year’s competition once again saw a strong field of entries, with the City of London Solicitors’ Company coming runners-up for its social media campaign to mark International Women’s Day to be particularly creative and for such a worthy cause as the Rights for Women charity in combatting Violence against Women and Girls.

The Company of HR Professionals and specially their Past Master Andrea Eccles were also commended for their exceptional performance in reaching the £300,000 target to become a full Worshipful Company. The judges were particularly impressed by her innovative use of both a print and electronic brochure to share with potential donors which she edited, and a short film about the Company and its ambitions which she scripted.

The company has just become the City of London's 114th livery company. Congratulations!