There are 7 awards altogether. Five of the awards are based on the five Every Child Matters outcomes. These outcomes are universal ambitions for every child and young person, whatever their background or circumstances.

In Devon we have a Children and Young People’s Plan which explains how organisations in Devon will work together to make these outcomes happen for children and young people. The Plan lists the main priority areas for work. We have used these priorities to define these five award categories.

Healthy Lives Award

Young people who have worked to improve their own health or the health of others and could include:

• tackling obesity – this could be by:
  • encouraging healthy eating
  • encouraging sport and exercise
• promoting good mental health and mental health services
• promoting good sexual health and sexual health services
• promoting a healthy lifestyle for younger children
• taking part in or promoting services for children with disabilities.

Staying Safe Award

Young people who have worked to improve their own safety or the safety of others and could include:

• tackling bullying
• dealing with and highlighting domestic violence
• dealing with and highlighting child abuse
• encouraging social and emotional development – this could be by:
  • finding ways of managing feelings and emotions
  • developing social skills
• developing and promoting safe places for young people to go.

Education Award

Young people who have worked to improve their own or others achievement and enjoyment in education and could include:

• improving exam results in English, maths and science
• challenging gifted and talented young people
• improving results for vulnerable children and young people – this could be children and young people:
  • in care
  • with disabilities
  • with learning difficulties
  • from difficult backgrounds
• improving attendance
• supporting young people at risk of exclusion.

Participation Award

Young people who have tried to get involved with their community and have encouraged others to do the same and could include:

• promoting young people in a positive way
• developing positive activities for young people to do
• reducing juvenile crime and re-offending by young people
• volunteering
• reducing substance abuse by young people.

Positive Future Award

Young people taking responsibility for their own or others future success and wellbeing and could include:

• going into training, further education and higher education
• gaining valuable work skills
• getting work experience and applying for work
• supporting vulnerable young people in education or work – this could be young people who:
  • are in care or leaving care
  • don’t attend school regularly
  • have committed offences
  • are teenage parents
  • are young carers
  • are from difficult backgrounds.

You can nominate a group of young people who have done work in any of these areas for the Group Award.

Community Award

This award is new this year and is for young people working to make a difference in their local community and raising awareness of the positive contribution young people can make to society.

This award is designed particularly to challenge negative perceptions of some young people which appear in national and local media, and recognise those young people who may not have many opportunities to get the recognition they deserve. This could include young people who are not in education, employment or training or from traveller or immigrant families.

Please nominate any young person you know that you think deserves an achievement award, even if what they have done doesn’t seem to fit into any of these categories. These are guidelines. We know that young people are doing amazing work in all sorts of areas and we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

Please nominate any young person you know that you think deserves an achievement award, even if what they have done doesn’t seem to fit into any of these categories. These are guidelines. We know that young people are doing amazing work in all sorts of areas and we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

To nominate a young person or group fill in this online form or call 01392 383698 and we will send you a nomination form.