Young Leaders Awards 2025
Welcome to the Young Leaders Awards 2025! We’re excited to be back for a second year, celebrating the incredible accomplishments of young people across our borough.
This is an event brought to you by Kensington and Chelsea Council's Youth Participation Team, our Youth Council, and Young K&C’s Youth Ambassadors.
These awards honour the achievements of young individuals who have made a significant impact through leadership, creativity, sports, community involvement, and more.
Join us in recognising the next generation of change-makers!
Contents
- Key dates
- Who you can nominate
- Nominate a young leader
- Award categories
- How winners are chosen
- Join us for the ceremony
- Partner with us
- Contact us
Key dates
- Nominations open: Monday 8 September 2025
- Deadline for nominations: Sunday 19 October 2025
- Award ceremony: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 6pm to 8.30pm, at Kensington Town Hall
Who you can nominate
Nominees must:
- be aged 11 to 19 (or up to 25 if they have SEND)
- live, work or study in the borough
You cannot nominate yourself for an award, but you can nominate someone for up to two awards
Nominate a young leader
Use our quick online form to submit your nomination.
Please note: The online form does not save your progress. Once you start it, you must finish in one go. We’ve created this document so you can see the questions in advance and prepare your answers.
Alternatively, you can contact us to request a paper form.
Award categories
- Volunteer of the year: recognising significant contributions to the community through volunteering, for example in sports, creativity , support roles, charity work, or organising events and marches
- Voice and Leadership Award: recognising someone who speaks up for others, leads by example, or has driven positive change through campaigning or organising
- Young Carer of the Year: recognising a young person who provides vital care and support to a family member while balancing school, work, and their own wellbeing
- Creative Achievement Award: celebrating outstanding creative work, of any artform, from visual art, writing and theatre to digital creators, designers, and musicians
- Environmental Champion: for a young person taking real action on the environment - campaigning, projects, or practical work that makes their community greener
- Growth and Resilience Award: celebrating personal progress. Overcoming barriers, building confidence, or showing determination through difficult circumstances
- Sports Excellence Award: honouring dedication, achievement, or leadership in sport and physical activity, on or off the field
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Champion: recognising a young person who has made a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of others, in line with the priorities of our Children and Young People’s Plan
- STEM Award: for achievement in science, technology, engineering, or maths
- Group Achievement Award: celebrating a youth group, project team, or collective (eg podcast group, youth project, band, sports team, campaign group) that achieved something together
Use our quick online form to submit your nomination.
Alternatively, you can contact us to request a paper form.
How winners are chosen
All nominations will be carefully reviewed by a panel of young judges from our Youth Council and Young K&C’s Youth Ambassadors. Our peer-judging process ensures the voices of young people are at the heart of recognising these achievements.
Submissions will be anonymised to maximise fairness.
Join us for the ceremony
Winners will be celebrated at a special in-person award ceremony on Tuesday 4 November 2025 at Kensington Town Hall. The event will feature refreshments, performances, and networking opportunities, offering a chance to connect with inspiring young people and community leaders.
Who can attend
The following people can attend the ceremony:
- nominees
- nominators
- young people (11 to 19, up to 25 with SEND) who live, work, study, or participate in youth activities in the borough
- people who work directly with youth
- friends and families of young attendees
Event details
- location: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton St, London W8 7NX
- doors open: 6pm
- event starts: 6:30pm
- event ends: 8.30pm
- food and drinks provided
Free tickets
If you would like to attend, you can get your free tickets online.
Partner with us
Help us make the Young Leaders Awards unforgettable. We welcome sponsorship and partnerships to provide prizes, opportunities, and support for young people.
Please contact us to discuss options:
- email: [email protected]
Contact us
Contact us if you have any questions or need assistance:
- email: [email protected]