Young Leaders Awards 2026
Welcome to the Young Leaders Awards 2026! 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 RBKC’s Youth Participation Team, RBKC 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!
Key dates
- Nominations open: Monday 10th August 2026
- Deadline for nominations: Friday 16th October 2026
- Award ceremony: Friday 20th November 2026, 6PM – 8.30PM, at Kensington Town Hall
Who can be nominated
- young people aged 11–19 (or up to 25 if they have SEND)
- must live, work, or study in the borough
Please note: You cannot nominate yourself for an award.
You can nominate someone for up to 2 awards.
Nominate a Young Leader
Submit your nomination online using our quick form
[Nominate someone button]
If you prefer a paper form, you can request one by contacting us at [email protected]
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 or vulnerable individual while balancing school, work, and their own wellbeing
- The Arts Excellence Award: celebrating outstanding work, of any art form, from visual art, writing, photography, theatre to digital creators, designers, musicians, vocalist, dancers and everything in-between
- 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
- Group Achievement Award: celebrating a youth group, project team, or collective (e.g. podcast group, youth project, band, sports team, campaign group) that achieved something together
- The Brightest Minds Award: Recognising outstanding achievement, curiosity, and dedication in academic, technical, and social disciplines. This award celebrates young people who have excelled in areas such as stem and humanities.
- The Cher Maximin Award: Recognising the achievement of Looked after children (LAC)
How winners are chosen
All nominations will be carefully reviewed by a panel of young judges from the RBKC Youth Council and Young K&C’s Youth Ambassadors. Our peer-judging process ensures that 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 Friday 20th November 2026 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?
- nominees
- nominators
- young people (11- 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: 6:00pm
- event start: 6:30pm
- event end: 8:30pm
- food and drinks provided
Get your tickets here:
Partner With Us
Help us make the Young Leaders Awards unforgettable. We welcome sponsorships and partnerships to provide prizes, opportunities, and support for young people.
Please contact [email protected] to discuss.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to:
- Email: [email protected]
We can’t wait to hear about the amazing young people making a difference in Kensington and Chelsea! Start nominating today and help us celebrate youth excellence.