21 May 2026

Black Beauty project wins University of East Anglia award for Innovation and Impact at prestigious ceremony

Anna Sewell and Black Beauty video title screen

Redwings and the University of East Anglia’s Black Beauty project has been named Partnership of the Year at the UEA’s Innovation and Impact Awards 2026.

The announcement was made at a special exhibition and award ceremony last night (Wednesday 20th May) at the UEA’s Enterprise Centre in Norwich.

‘Black Beauty: Cultural Heritage in the Service of Animal Welfare and Children’s Literacy’ was shortlisted alongside two other projects demonstrating the impact of the UEA working hand-in-hand with industry, charities and communities. 
 

UEA Innovation and Impact award
(L-R) - Nicola Knight, Redwings' Head of Communications and Campaigns, Professor Thomas Ruys Smith and Dr Hilary Emmett from the UEA and Charlotte McMorran-Stock, Redwings' Education and Youth Publications Officer

The story so far

 

The partnership began when we took on custodianship of Anna Sewell House in 2022. Since then, Redwings and the UEA have published a fundraising edition of Black Beauty to mark our 40th anniversary 2024 available to buy from our shop here, an advance copy of which was gifted to Her Majesty the Queen when she visited the house in the summer of 2023.

Together we have run writing competitions for young people, produced free educational materials, collaborated on two book festivals and produced an animation that was itself shortlisted in both the Charity Film Awards and the Brand Film Awards.

Most recently we launched a ‘kindness to animals’ Black Beauty pledge, where children and young people promise to treat all animals as they would like to be treated.

Redwings’ Nicola Knight, Head of Communications and Campaigns, and Charlotte McMorran, Redwings’ Education and Youth Publications Officer, represented the charity at last night’s event. Nicola said: “We’re so thrilled to have the work we have done together with the brilliant people at the UEA recognised in this way.

“This really has been a true partnership, which has grown and grown over the past few years – it’s astonishing to look back on what we’ve already achieved as we reflect on this award.

“I’m so excited to see where this special relationship takes us next.”

Thomas Ruys Smith said: “It has been a real privilege to work so closely with Redwings on this project and a true honour to continue Anna Sewell's extraordinary legacy. This award recognises how our partnership has taken up her commitment to improve the welfare of both animals and humans and we still have lots planned as we approach the 150th anniversary of Black Beauty next year."  

Find out more about our Black Beauty Pledge here.

A drawn image of Anna Sewell
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