Nominations are now open for the Better Tomorrows Awards 2026, a celebration of outstanding youth work across Cumbria.
The awards will shine a spotlight on the people and projects making a real difference in the lives of young people. Public nominations are now open for three categories: Youth Worker of the Year, Youth Project of the Year, and Young Volunteer of the Year.
This is the second year the awards will be held, forming part of the annual Better Tomorrows Celebration Event, which brings together youth workers, young people, funders, and community organisations. This year's event will take place on 13 November at The Benny Walker Centre in Workington, where the winners will be announced in front of a live audience.
Better Tomorrows was launched by Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) in 2021 with the aim of substantially increasing the number of young people able to access quality youth work and the number of trained youth workers across Cumbria.
David Beeby, former CCF Chair and founder of the Better Tomorrows programme, said: "The feedback we have had from the newly trained youth workers, the young people they support and the organisations they work in tells us that Better Tomorrows is making a huge difference across the county.
"Last year we held these awards for the first time to recognise and celebrate the incredible work happening across our communities – both paid and voluntary – to support and inspire young people. We had some fantastic nominations and the awards evening was an inspirational celebration of youth work at its best. I can't wait to see this year's entries."
Last year, Shackles Off, of Seascale, was named Youth Project of the Year in the first Better Tomorrows Awards. Operations Manager Joanne Pears said: "Winning the award is an incredible recognition of our team's passion, commitment, and dedication to young people. The award celebrates the real and lasting difference Shackles Off makes in young people's lives, while shining a spotlight on the importance of high-quality youth work in rural communities.
"Above all, it celebrates the incredible young people at the heart of everything we do. They inspire our work, shape our project and are, quite simply, the reason we exist."
The other category winners were Lindsey Atkinson, of Tullie, Carlisle, who was named Youth Worker of the Year, and Evie Owen, of Wigton Wombles, run by North Allerdale Development Trust, who won Young Volunteer of the Year.
To date, Better Tomorrows has trained more than 80 accredited youth workers, funded 60 new youth work roles, and engaged more than 7,000 young people across Cumbria.
As well as funding to pay for accredited youth work training, which is managed by Cumbria Youth Alliance, Better Tomorrows also offers multi-year grants of up to £75,000 to community organisations that set up or provide new youth work opportunities for local people.
More than 50 funders have contributed to the programme, including Cumbria Community Foundation, Francis Scott Trust, Four Acre Trust, Nuclear Waste Services, many local businesses and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at CCF, said: "We know that early intervention and positive relationships can have a lasting impact on a young person's future, yet too many communities still lack access to quality youth provision.
"Donations to Better Tomorrows help us invest in local solutions that respond to the needs of young people, creating opportunities where they are needed most. Every contribution helps to expand access to youth work and ensure that more young people can benefit from the guidance, encouragement and opportunities that help them thrive."
Nominations for the Better Tomorrows Awards 2026 close at 10am on Monday, 28 September. A shortlist will be chosen in each category from public nominations, then a panel of young people will pick the winners.
Nominations can be submitted at www.cumbriafoundation.org/programmes/better-tomorrows/better-tomorrows-awards
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