Candy Gourlay accepting her Outstanding Contribution Award

Our annual award recognises a special volunteer who embodies the welcoming and supportive ‘spirit of SCBWI’ and has made an outstanding contribution to shaping and growing our chapter.

Candy Gourlay joined in 2002. After being involved in the designing of the Expressions Online newsletter, she helped Lee Carr McGovern to build the first British Isles website, little realising it would led to becoming British Isles webmaster herself! In all her roles, Candy has shown herself to not only someone who makes things happen, but someone who can do it with friendliness, determination and good humour!

Candy Gourlay

She has been one of our most innovative volunteers, constantly aware of what we need to do before we knew it ourselves! Candy is by her own admission, “a compulsive volunteer”, and is always willing to devote selfless hours in making these new ideas happen. She has twice re-designed the website, helped to organise four conferences (including this year’s!), set up the Online Critique network and the Ning, dreamed up the Night-Before Critique and the Plus Pages, and has helped to redevelop Words & Pictures into an online blog. Her endless supply of great ideas made the new PULSE panels, which she moderated gracefully, an amazing hit at last year’s conference.

Candy’s tireless work has created a vibrant SCBWI community that sparkles both online and face-to-face. This year as she’s handed on the mantle of webmaster to Nick Cross, she is determined to remain an active member of the steering and conference committees. She continues to be willing to share her success and advice with members. We hope that her boundless enthusiasm and infectious optimism will continue to shape the British Isles for many years to come.  

Natascha Biebow announces the winner of our Outstanding Contribution Award

Our new annual award recognises a special volunteer who embodies the welcoming and supportive ‘spirit of SCBWI’ and has made an outstanding contribution to shaping and growing our chapter.

Margaret has been volunteering for the SCBWI-BI for a long time, running events for writers and illustrators. In her many roles, Margaret’s was often the first friendly face encountered by new members.

At first, Margaret organised the Illustrator’s Day alongside Anne-Marie Perks, inviting speakers, greeting attendees and ensuring the day ran smoothly. When we proposed the illustrator masterclass series, there was Margaret, brimming with enthusiasm and ideas. 

Margaret Carey accepts her award at the November conference in Winchester

Alongside this, Margaret ran the popular Professional Series for three years with Sara Grant, growing it from its modest living-room start to sell-out success. She sought out interesting speakers, moved the event to a new central London venue, and constantly welcomed new members, helping to make them feel part of the SCBWI-BI family.

Then last year, Margaret took on a leadership role as Conference Coordinator. With Natascha on maternity leave and too sleep-deprived to be much help, Margaret unflappably took up the reigns and made it happen. This is just what makes her such an outstanding volunteer.

“Not only is she steadfast and responsible, but truly one of the kindest and most down-to-earth people that I have met in this field. Such a genuine and calming influence, she listens to and is true to her own voice. There is simply no one like Margaret.”