Celebrating the Community Champion Awards 2026 – Nominations Now Open

Some young people quietly change the world around them every day and rarely get the recognition they deserve. At Clothier Lacey, we love giving them that spotlight. The Community Champion Awards are our way of celebrating the brilliant pupils from schools across Newcastle who go above and beyond for their communities.

This year’s awards will take place on 12 February 2026, and nominations are now open. We are looking for pupils who show kindness, leadership, creativity or a dedication to helping others. There are eight different awards, each recognising young people improving their schools and local areas in ways that truly deserve recognition.

Nominations close on 15 January 2026, so don’t miss the chance to highlight someone special.

We love organising this event every year. Seeing communities come together, hearing the stories behind each nomination and celebrating the efforts of these inspiring young people makes all our hard work worthwhile. It is a privilege to be part of recognising their achievements and giving them the spotlight they deserve.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Individual awards can be sponsored, providing a fantastic way to show support for the city’s young people and the wider community. There are a range of packages to suit different budgets, all of which include headline branding to showcase your organisation’s commitment to Newcastle’s next generation.

Nominating is quick and simple, and you can enter more than one pupil if you wish. Visit https://northernleaderstrust.org/north-east-community-champions/ to submit your nominations and explore sponsorship packages. We cannot wait to celebrate Newcastle’s young Community Champions in 2026 and share their incredible stories.

Photos from last year's Community Champion Awards