Participation Works

British Youth Council (BYC) has launched its new Youth On Board Awards (YOBs) - an exclusively youth-led rolling award scheme that recognises innovative and exciting youth participation, both for individual young people and those organisations who support it.

The young people of British Youth Council want to celebrate the benefits of involving young people and encourage more organisations to engage young people in their work.

Young people within BYC have developed the awards to celebrate organisations and projects that support youth participation in innovative and exciting ways, and to mark the fantastic achievements that can happen because young people are supported to get involved.

BYC have a number of case studies about the previous winners of the awards which are available to view on their website.

Vice Chair of BYC Rossina St James said "I've always valued the views of my peers and we want this award to be special in that all the selection and judging is by young people, and we especially want young people to make nominations. Its important to us that these awards are not a competition between young people, with winners and losers, but that all who meet the criteria will get recognised. There are also categories recognising youth projects and organisations who listen to and encourage young people to participate."

Successful applicants will be given a dated certificate, and supporting projects can use a special good practice logo. Individuals will be given BYC badges. All award holders will be listed on the BYC website and Annual Report.

You can nominate organisations, projects or young leaders for the following awards. Nominations from young people themselves are especially welcome.

Innovation Award
Celebrate new ideas and practices that have made a real difference to how organisations work with young people.

Inspiring Project Award
Recognise efforts made by projects to engage young people and give them a voice.

The Make a Difference Award
Mark the achievements of an individual young person who has made a real difference through their role in the running of an organisation or project - this may be through a charity board, youth forum, executive or committee. Recognise the sustained effort, creativity, leadership, and teamwork of young people.

Youth-led Award
Recognise youth-led organisations that are providing a platform for young people and young voices and making a difference at a local, national or international level.

Deadlines
Nominations for Youth on Board Awards will be accepted throughout 2012 and successful award applications will be announced every three months.

Judging - will be exclusively by a panel of elected young people. The following deadlines therefore apply:

Closing dates for nomination Announcement of successful awards

26 February 2012                 March

27 May 2012                        June

26 August 2012                    September

25 November 2012                December

Mon, 16/01/2012 - 15:35