Written by Steve Lodge

Created 6th June 2014

Oxygen shortlisted for prestigious public relations award

The Oxygen Agency was shortlisted for a prestigious public relations award this Spring.

The firm is one of five West Country and Wales-based agencies that were in the running for the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) award in the ‘Live, Loud and Launched’ category.

PRCA is the largest PR association in Europe and represents over 12,000 agencies including the top 150 UK consultancies, and many of Europe’s leading corporate in-house communications teams. Oxygen won the attention of the judges with a highly targeted and effective launch event and campaign to promote a new innovative 3D film for the Taunton-based charity, Stand Against Violence (SAV).

Oxygen MD Steve Lodge, who attended the awards ceremony in Bristol on 5 June, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised by the judges and shortlisted. Our PR budget for the SAV campaign was small but it’s such a great project, designed to teach teenagers to avoid and defuse violent situations and save lives.

“We took a creative approach to the event, such as researching up-to-date youth crime figures to present a more compelling case to editors for pieces on why SAV’s work is so needed, and just how effective it can be.

“Despite the budget restrictions, we were able to get good national and regional coverage, and stage a launch event that made it a ‘no brainer’ for PSHE co-ordinators to invite SAV into local schools. We estimate that as a result, the film will have reached about 3000 regional schoolchildren, and that they’re less likely to be involved in serious violence as a result.

“Of course, we’re proud of the campaign and while we didn’t win the award which went to a large Cheltenham agency, it’s been rewarding to work on something that really will change lives.”

The regional PRCA awards were created to recognise PR excellence in each of the regions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The South West and Wales awards ceremony took place on the 5th June at the Royal Marriott Hotel in Bristol.