National Youth Work Awards 2026

Shining a light on Scotland’s youth work heroes!

Finalists

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate. We’re pleased to announce that our National Youth Work Awards finalists for 2026 are:

Arts & Creativity

 

  • JERRY– Jamming Expression and Rhythm for Rainbow Youth – LGBT Youth Scotland
  • Cutting Edge Youth Theatre – Cutting Edge Theatre
  • Glasgow Girls Club

Community-Based Youth Work – sponsored by Youth Scotland

 

  • Denis Law Legacy Trust
  • Girvan Youth Trust
  • BEE’s Young Volunteer Programme – BEE (Brighter East End)

Digital & STEM – sponsored by Sky

 

  • P4F Robotics – Passion4Fusion
  • Young Women Lead – The Young Women’s Movement
  • Ainsley Carnarvon - Heart of Midlothian FC Innovation Centre

Equality & Diversity

 

  • Dumfries & Galloway Young Women’s Network
  • Fauve Chapman - Borders Additional Needs Group
  • Diversity Bridge SCIO

Health & Wellbeing

 

  • Active Life Club
  • 6VT Cairn Service
  • Kinetic Youth

Inclusion & Prevention – sponsored by Scottish Police Federation 

 

  • Young and Equally Safe (YES) - Renfrewshire Council
  • Switching Play Programme– Big Hearts Community Trust
  • A Bird’s Eye View on Hate Crime - Creative Stirling

Inspirational Leader -sponsored by Institute of Directors Scotland (IoD)

 

  • Edward Obi - Diversity Bridge SCIO
  • Kelechi Raphael - Hope for Families
  • Molly Geddes - Glasgow Girls Club

Outdoor Learning & Environment

 

  • Lochview Rural Training
  • Edge Woods - Edge Group Scotland
  • Cyclewise - Castlemilk Youth Complex

Participation & Youth Voice – sponsored by Winning Scotland

 

  • AYM (Aberdeen Youth Movement) - Aberdeen City Council
  • Team NLN - National Leadership Network
  • Young Sea Changers Scotland

Recognising Skills & Achievement

 

  • Include Me 2 Club Positive Pathways
  • North Lanarkshire Council -Young Adult Project  
  • Ready2Thrive - West Dunbartonshire Council

Team of the Year – sponsored by Perthshire Youth Work Partnership

 

  • Toryglen Community Youth Project SCIO
  • AYM (Aberdeen Youth Movement) - Aberdeen City Council
  • Scran Café’s RHCYP Team – Scran Academy

Volunteer Youth Worker – sponsored by Young Scot

 

  • Libby Ong - Girlguiding Scotland
  • John McGregor - Toryglen Community Youth Project SCIO
  • Cameron Hamilton - Fife Council

Youth Worker of the Year

 

  • Aimee Mason and Jessica Parker - North Ayrshire Council
  • Iain Corbett - Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice
  • Alison Smith - Moray Council Youth Work Team

Lifetime Achievement Award (Fellowship of YouthLink Scotland)

To be announced…

Meet Last Year's Winners

From digital wizardry to groundbreaking mental health initiatives, meet our our winners as we celebrated the best of youth work in 2025.

Book your place!

Be part of an unforgettable evening of celebration, glamour, and inspiration at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow on Wednesday 3rd June 2026. This year’s Awards Dinner will be an inspiring gathering of Scotland’s youth work champions, a night filled with stories of dedication, resilience, and positive change.

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