Camden celebrates Youth Celebration Week 2026
Young people, youth workers and community organisations were recognised as Camden marked Youth Celebration Week with an event celebrating young people's achievements, creativity and contributions across the borough.
Held at Regent High School on 4 November 2026, the event brought together finalists and winners of the annual Camden Youth Safety Multi-Media Awards and the Camden Youth Awards, alongside performances from Remix Dance, based at the Old Diorama Arts Centre, and the Somers Town Youth Centre Band.
Now in its sixth year, the Camden Youth Safety Multi-Media Awards invite children and young people to explore themes of youth safety through film, podcasting, drama, writing, art and design. The competition was established following the recommendations of Camden's Youth Safety Taskforce and provides a platform for young people to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas for creating safer communities.
The event also celebrated the winners of the Camden Youth Awards, which recognise the inspiring achievements of young people, the dedication of youth workers, and the impact of voluntary and community organisations supporting young people across Camden.
Youth Celebration Week is a chance to recognise the incredible talent, determination and leadership shown by young people across Camden every day. Whether through creative projects, community involvement, personal achievements or overcoming challenges, the young people honoured this week are helping shape the future of our borough.
It's also an opportunity to celebrate the youth workers and community organisations who play such an important role in young people's lives. In Camden, we're working with our partners to provide the support, opportunities and safe spaces that help young people build confidence, develop their talents and achieve their ambitions.
Youth work continues to play a vital role in supporting young people across Camden. During 2025/26, 4,117 young people accessed youth provision across the borough through Camden Council and voluntary sector services.
Young people participated in a wide range of after-school, evening and holiday activities, including sport, creative arts, health and wellbeing programmes, and personal development opportunities.
Just over 2,100 young people achieved recorded outcomes and 1454 gained accredited outcomes such as AQA Awards Unit, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, first aid qualifications, and food hygiene certificates. These achievements help young people develop skills, confidence and experience that support their progression into education, employment and adulthood.
Youth Celebration Week highlights the positive impact of youth work and recognises the trusted support and safe spaces provided by youth workers across the borough. The week also reflects the National Youth Agency's Youth Work Week 2026 theme, Where Futures Begin.
Award winners
The 2026 Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition joint winners were:
- Disconnected? Connected? Student Voices on a Phone-Free School Day - Acland Burghley School students talk frankly about the pros and cons of being a phone-free school. Watch their video (3 minutes, 28 seconds)
- Consequences - Created by a girls’ group at Coram’s Fields Youth Programme, this film uses drama to highlight the consequences of bullying on and offline. Trigger warning - the film portrays bullying and its effects on the mental health of children and young people, which some viewers may find upsetting. Watch their video (3 minutes, 20 seconds).
The 2026 runners-up were:
- The Desire to Fit In - A powerful animated film about the dangers of choosing the wrong friends by ARC Youth Club, based at SHAK on the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate, Kilburn, in partnership with Fitzrovia Youth in Action. Watch their film (5 minutes, 26 seconds)
- Count Me In - Camden Detached Youth Team worked with the Count Me In project to produce a short documentary film. Count Me In is a youth programme for children and young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities aged 13 to 19, based at Somers Town Youth Centre, which is seen as a safe space by its members. Watch their film (4 minutes, 45 seconds)
- A Safer Camden, On and Offline - A powerful poem by Chioma Nwabufoh, of The Dome Youth Club, Queen’s Crescent Community Association. Read her poem
The winners of the Camden Youth Awards 2026 were:
- Positive Impact Award: Tabarak Al-Krayiem (The Social Hub at The Hive, Catch 22)
- Personal Journey Award: Shay Walters (Somers Town Youth Hub) & Furas Awasah (Heath School)
- Young Volunteer Award: Mohamed (Mido) Shehab (Somers Town Youth Hub) & Amine El-Koumachi (Somers Town Youth Hub)
- Best Practitioner in Camden (Council) Award: Catherine Andrews (Senior Youth Worker, Youth Early Help)
- Best Voluntary Sector Practitioner Award: Mae Moorbath (The Hive, Catch 22)
- Best Voluntary Sector Project Award: DilDil CIC
The event was hosted by Camden Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service with local voluntary sector partners, schools and the Mayor of Camden.