We’ve been blown away by this year’s awards entries. Reading through the over 200 entries was an inspiring task. Almost 15000 young people in total have been involved in the nominated projects – amazing young people with creativity and spirit who are making a real difference in their communities. We read stories of hardships overcome, of innovative solutions found for impossible tasks, and over and over again tales of what can be achieved by young people working together to tackle issues that matter to them.

It was not easy to decide who should be our finalists – a task which our youth judging panel undertook with great energy and commitment. They are pictured above on the judging day at the Home Office, with Frances Lawrence and the Home Secretary Theresa May who came by to meet the panel and encourage them in their difficult task.

We’re delighted to announce this year’s 35 regional finalists – fantastic projects which we think represent the very best in their region:

Scotland

• Haggeye, Edinburgh


• HYCUP Helping Young Carers to Unite and Participate, Galashiels


• Soundminds, Motherwell


• Sportworx Entertainment, South Lanarkshire

Wales

• Forsythia Youth Project, Merthyr Tydfil


• Friday Night Project, Tenby


• Us UnLtd…, Mold, Flintshire

Northern Ireland

• Back to the Future, Carrickfergus


• Breaking the Cycle, Belfast

North East

• Youth Independent Advisory Group (YIAG), County Durham and Darlington

North West

• Challenging Preconceptions, Burnley


• Raising Aspirations in Manchester

East Midlands

• 180DegreeSpace, Nottingham


• YAYA (Young Adults, Young Artists), Nottingham

West Midlands

• All Of Us, Dudley


• Cheadle Buddy Club, Staffordshire


• Handle with Care, Dudley


• Morph4us, Burntwood, Staffordshire


• The Big Clean-Up, Birmingham

Yorkshire and Humber

• Goole Community Space Challenge


• Trick Or Treat, Wakefield

East of England

• Community Action Through Sports, Wells-next-the-sea


• Young Parents Programme – Romsey Mill, Cambridge

London

• Alliance Dance Unit, Brentford, Middlesex


• Bikes2Gambia, Hackney


• Catch22 Youth Inclusion Programme and Community Space Challenge Project, Barking


• ‘Labels are for clothes, not for people’ Haringey Youth Council Mental Health campaign


• Lives not Knives, Croydon


• SW!TCH ID, Dagenham

South East

• Aik Saath, Slough


• ‘Inspiration’ Inclusive Youth Theatre, Broadstairs


• No Name Theatre Group, Portsmouth

South West

• Aldbourne CAN


• BTCV FLOW Project, Bristol


• ‘Culture Club’ Community Project, Plymouth

Thank you so much to everyone who nominated a group of young people this year, and congratulations to our regional finalists.

We’ll be announcing which of these brilliant projects are this year’s award winners on 7 December. Watch this space!