Recognition inspires – so don’t just notice, nominate!

I’ll be joining the young judges table, not because of my age, but because it’s been nearly15 years since I started working with CYP Now to source and support young people to help judge the CYP Now awards and the CYP Now Positive Image awards.

The event will celebrate people and organisations in the sector who have made an outstanding contribution over the last year. The awards occasionally include young leaders and I remember with pride Dara Farrel (then aged 18) who won an award in 2012 for his campaigning work to save youth services, and Jack Welch (24) who won the champion award for his autism awareness and youth voice work.   

Inspired by the CYP Now awards and other recognition initiatives that Ive been involved with at the Prince’s Trust, the British Youth Council, and the Pride of Britain I started the Campaign4 Youth Recognition in 2016 to make national award nominations generally more accessible, by signposting links and information about open nomination initiatives - the New Years and Birthday Honours, Points of Light, the Diana Awards and the #iwillMovements ambassador programme.

The overall aim is to increase public recognition and respect for children and young peoples’ positive contribution and influence on society. Many of these young ‘citizens’ aren’t old enough to vote, but are old enough to have taken action to make a difference. I believe that if they are more widely recognised, they will attract more enough attention to their campaigns and causes to stimulate a reaction from decision makers to address their priorities, hopes and fears – even working in partnership with them.

This is why I was delighted to accept an invitation to become an ambassador for the The British Citizen youth Awards (BCyA) and add them to my list of recommended initiatives.  Launched in 2016 by the charity the British Citizen Awards they are also known as the ‘peoples honours’ because they are also open to public nominations, receive blue ribboned medals and can use the post-nominals ‘BCyA’. Only 24 medals are awarded annually, and their stories are published in a permanent Roll of Honour. This prompted me to start researching and publishing young recipients of the royal New Years and Birthday Honours on the YVH website, alongside advice and resources on how to nominate.

I went along to this year’s celebration in Parliament to join the host and one of the Patrons of the BCyAs, Kimberly Wyatt, former Pussycat Doll and actress, and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan MP, to present some of the awards at a special lunch reception for children and parents on the House of Lords terrace, courtesy of Patron Dame Mary Perkins and sponsor Specsavers.

The children, aged six to18, despite facing personal challenges, were recognised for their selfless commitment to a multitude of causes, raising funds, campaigning and awareness-raising. It was a real privilege to present four of this year medals. Two of these awards went to ‘youth voice’ champions local to me in Kent and Medway! Oliver Smith BCyA (15) school councillor, and member of Swale Youth Forum and Kent Youth County Council, and Medway’s youngest elected Youth Council Chair and campaigner, Rose Stokes (15) BCyA.

I was also a host to a table of children and parents where I was sat next to climate change campaigner Aleesha Gadhia BCyA (eight) who also received a Point of Light award. She told me that she met PM Boris Johnson at No 10, and she also been praised by Sir David Attenborough and HM the Queen.

Aleesha and butterfly conservationist Rebecca Bailey (12) BCyA also appeared on Sky Kids and CBBC. The most publicly recognisable young face at the event was Tobias Weller BCyA (12) who raised £168,000 for charities by using a special ‘walker’ to aid him walk the equivalent of a marathon during Covid, inspired by Captain Tom. He was featured on TV and also received royal Honours - a BEM. But not all the presentations were from us to young people. Ilhora-Lee Louison (nine) BCyA, children's mental health champion, presented me with a copy of her self-development journal, something I will use in 2024!

It's also very humbling to meet some parents who provide support to their children so that they can overcome physical and mental barriers to campaign for funding and awareness of their conditions.

I remember seven years ago, proud mum Faye, of Chanel Murrish, who was aged only three, when they came up to get their medal. Chanel was the youngest person I’ve ever presented an award to but I hadn’t realised she was the youngest person in the world to have survived heart surgery. She, with the help of mum had been fundraising and presenting Christmas gifts to her local hospital. Now aged 10, she is still fundraising for Christmas present and raising awareness about her condition.

As we approach the end of the year it’s perhaps a good time for us all to look back and not just remember its exceptional children and young people from 2023, but to consider nominating them for recognition in 2024. By lifting up these individuals to public acclaim we challenge negative perceptions about youth, inspire others to follow, and invest in a new wave of young leaders going forward.

James Cathcart is director of Young Voices Heard and the Campaign4YouthRecognition.

The CYP Now Awards 2023 takes place on Thursday 23 November.