There’s something rather heartening about a community backing the very organisations that keep it ticking over, and GEL Studios has once again found a way to make that happen. The purpose-led creative agency has opened the public vote for its well-regarded Win a Creative Solution competition, unveiling a shortlist packed with familiar names doing vital work across Swindon and the wider SN area.
The idea is simple enough: local not-for-profits and charities put themselves forward, the shortlist is revealed, and the good people of Swindon decide who should receive one of three pro-bono creative projects in 2026. These could be anything from a refreshed brand identity to a website that finally makes sense to the humans trying to use it — or even a campaign that helps an organisation be heard above the usual noise.
This year’s contenders paint a rather vivid picture of the town’s heart. The Harbour Project hopes to use the opportunity to challenge tired perceptions around asylum seekers and refugees. Big Breakfast Plus, which dishes out hot meals to anyone who needs one, is looking for a website worthy of the scale of its work. The Roxi Foundation wants to support even more families of neurodivergent children by making their online home clearer and easier to navigate.
Then there’s Inspire Enrichment, a not-for-profit that runs participant-led sessions and now needs a stronger identity; Teamability, championing accessibility through workshops and school activities; Torn Curtain, a poetry group turning creativity into connection; The Kelly Foundation, supporting adults facing mental health challenges; and Friends of Beechcroft School, the ever-energetic force behind fundraising for the local community.
Voting runs from 1–12 December via GEL Studios’ competition page, and the winners will be announced on Friday 12 December. There’s even a bit of a twist: the more votes an organisation receives, the faster its project will take shape next year. Democracy with deadlines — very Swindon.
Reflecting on the competition, GEL Studios founder Graeme Leighfield said the team remained driven by their belief that creative work can spark real change. Since 2024, the agency has provided support to 35 good causes, collectively reaching well over 380,000 people. This year’s shortlist, he said, shows just how much important work is happening quietly around us every day.
Leaving the decision to the public, Leighfield explained, ensures that the organisations the community most wants to uplift are the ones who benefit — a sentiment that feels perfectly in step with the spirit of the town.
