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• written and recorded the theme music for Jon Snow’s Paralympic Show on Channel 4
• performed a new version of the British National Anthem at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s 2012 Christmas broadcast
• been the subject of a major Channel 4 documentary, screened just before the Paralympics Closing Ceremony
• grown to a membership of 26 musicians
• performed at festivals and venues around the UK, including the Unlimited Festival, Southbank Centre, Orchestra in a Field and the Snape Proms in Aldeburgh

The talented musicians of Paraorchestra inspired a worldwide audience when they performed alongside Coldplay at the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Paraorchestra is providing opportunities, challenging perceptions and entertaining audiences. This Big Society Award celebrates a phenomenal 2012 for the orchestra and looks forward to an exciting future for everyone involved.

I conduct orchestras around the world, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of musicians with a disability I have encountered anywhere. There is no platform for musicians with disability, very little in the way of funding - and therefore access to the often-necessary technologies: it is virtually impossible for anyone from this community to make a living as a professional musician. The British Paraorchestra is pioneering a global movement to recognise disabled musicians with extraordinary abilities, and to end the limitations placed on them, not by their physical ability, but by lack of opportunity.

It’s the loudest way of saying ‘get involved isn’t it’? Play just play, don’t mind any of the other nonsense, have a go. The musicianship here is off the scale, there are no egos; it’s just everyone sharing and improvising. I’m learning loads already, just because it’s different to your traditional orchestras.

The first thing is they don’t forget about me during the interval and leave me on the stage. Surrounded by timpani and harps.

We had a fantastic first year in 2012, it’s really nice to get everyone back together again. I remember back in 2011, there were four of us in the room with Charles and we spent the day jamming, trying to create music and see if the idea had potential. Most of my performing is now done through the Paraorchestra, it gets me out of the house and away from the desk.

In a perfect world the need for a Paraorchestra wouldn’t exist. For too long, musicians with disability have not had the same platform on which to perform and engage with audiences. Putting the disabilities to one side, as an ensemble I think it is truly groundbreaking because it mixes together all sorts of musical cultures, instruments and identities. You can actually completely ignore the para element of it and it’s still a tremendously exciting musical group that has been developed here.

I think the audience can expect surprises; I think that’s very much at the heart of what the Paraorchestra is all about – taking the familiar and doing the unfamiliar.

We’ve got some exciting projects coming up and exciting new repertoire for the festival which is great. The festival is fantastic with its programming, it’s been so varied over the years. By programming the Paraorchestra to come I think again it’s challenging audience perception as well and I pretty much guarantee they’re going to love what the Paraorchestra has to offer.

I would rather be able to play an instrument again than walk. There’s so much joy that I can get from playing an instrument and performing. It’s removed some of the paralysis.

• the British Paraorchestra’s vision is to break down barriers and represent disabled musicians forming a community of gifted people
• Channel 4’s ‘Great British Paraorchestra’ documentary screened just before the Paralympics Closing Ceremony
• on 3 December 2012, coinciding with United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the British Paraorchestra released a single – their version of ‘True Colors’, featuring ParalympicsGB athletes and The Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf & Hearing Children
• proceeds from the sale of the ‘True Colors’ single will go towards supporting the ParalympicsGB team and to support the future growth and development of the British Paraorchestra and the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf & Hearing Children
• the single ‘True Colors’ can be downloaded from iTunes
• the British Paraorchestra plans to release an album in 2014

• people, projects and organisations that enable communities to drive change themselves
• projects and organisations that allow the community to identify solutions
• people, projects and organisations that inspire others to contribute to their community

• people and organisations taking new approaches to public services
• successful collaboration and partnerships between public, private and voluntary sector, working together to benefit communities

• people, projects and organisations taking action in their community
• working together for social change (e.g. through creating groups, campaigns, movements)
• generosity of time, money, skills and other resources, in support of social action

There are some amazing projects and remarkable voluntary work going on in towns and cities up and down the country, by all kinds of organisations from large enterprises to tiny grassroots schemes and inspirational individuals.

These awards are a chance to pay tribute to those making a valuable contribution to their community, the real champions of the Big Society, but perhaps more importantly, I hope they will motivate many others to take action, get involved and drive change in their area.