Celebrating young people and youth work in Camden

Camden Council has marked Youth Celebration Fortnight with a series of engaging events and activities designed to empower children, young people, youth workers, and professionals. 

From 27 October to 7 November, a range of creative workshops, assemblies, and award ceremonies took place, all aimed at empowering young people, amplifying their voices, and recognising the vital role youth workers play in Camden’s communities. The fortnight builds on the success of last year’s Youth Celebration Week and the annual Camden Youth Safety Week, first launched in 2018 following the Youth Safety Taskforce Report. 

A highlight of the fortnight was the announcement of winners for Camden’s annual Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition, held at Camden Town Hall on 6 November. Now in its fifth year, the competition invites young people to creatively explore youth safety through podcasting, filmmaking, drama and design. 

Also celebrated at the same event were the winners of the Camden Youth Awards, which shine a light on the inspiring journeys of young people, the dedication of youth workers, and the impact of voluntary sector projects that make a real difference.

Youth work in Camden continues to be a cornerstone of support for young people. In 2024/25, over 3,700 young people accessed youth provision across the borough, including both Camden-run and voluntary sector projects. Young people took part in a wide range of after-school, evening, and holiday programmes, including sports, health and wellbeing, creative arts, and personal development activities.

Through these programmes, 808 participants earned accreditations such as food hygiene certificates, AQA Unit Awards, first aid qualifications, and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. These achievements build confidence and skills while supporting young people’s transition into adulthood and employment, with national impact reports showing youth work improves wellbeing, reduces risk-taking, promotes inclusion, and enhances education and career readiness.

During Youth Celebration Fortnight, Camden aims to spotlight these outcomes and celebrate the dedication of youth workers who provide trusted support and safe spaces for young people to flourish. This aligns with the National Youth Agency’s Youth Work Week 2025 theme: ‘Building Brighter Futures—safe places, trusted support, and opportunities to thrive’.

 The joint winners of this year's Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition 2025 were:

• We are talking, can you hear us? Acland Burghley School. A video podcast about youth safety by students from Acland Burghley School, reflecting on what youth safety means to them. The school has always entered the annual Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition over the last five years and this is the third time they have been named winners in the competition.
• The Truth Behind the Lie, Chapters 1 and 2 - Coram's Fields Youth Programme. Created by a girls’ group at Coram’s Fields Youth Programme, this film uses drama to highlight the challenges they face now and concerns they see for the future, exploring themes such as online safety, the use of social media and impact of AI. The films examine how these issues affect children and young people’s health and wellbeing.

The runners-up were:

• Voices of Change (Lessons from the Unrest) by Camden Detached Youth Team. Camden Detached Youth Team have produced a youth-led documentary exploring how young people, local residents and frontline staff in Camden experienced the rise in hate crimes and national tensions during 2024, highlighting their resilience, solidarity and vision for a safer, more inclusive community. The film also reflects on more recent events, including demonstrations and the rise in racism.
• Parliament Hill School Youth Safety Posters. Produced by Year 8 students, the school’s entry features eight creative posters focused on online safety, highlighting practical ways young people can stay safe online while sharing their vision for Camden’s future. The winning posters were by these Parliament Hill students: Alea Krasniqi, Aria Irving, Florence Smith, Hanna Stubbs, Kezia Wedderburn, Sienna Montes Meeres, Valentina Frediani-Ribiere and Zarah Khanam Omar.

The winners of the Camden Youth Awards 2025 were:

• Positive Impact Award - Camden Community Wealth Fund Youth Panel Members
• Personal Journey Award – Rahim Ahmed, nominated for his work with the Your Bike Project
• Young Volunteer Award – Kais Mahmud-Marshall, from disability dance charity icandance
• Best Practitioner in Camden (Council) Award - Marley Simms, an apprentice Youth Worker at Camden Council, who is just finishing his apprenticeship and is due to become a full-time youth worker with the Youth Early Help Team at Somers Town Youth Centre
• Best Voluntary Sector Practitioner Award - Ian Horgan, Lead Facilitator at Wac Nites, run by the charity Wac Arts.
• Best Voluntary Sector Project Award – Fitzrovia Youth in Action Peer Education Project, in partnership with William Ellis School.

Other standout moments from the fortnight included a Young People’s Assembly on rights and youth voice at the Crowndale Centre on 29 October, and a Mayoral Reception on 3 November to honour youth workers from both the Council and voluntary sector.

Activities and events were hosted by Camden Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service with local voluntary sector partners, schools and the Mayor of Camden. 

See more photos from the awards.

Find out more about work to keep young people safe in Camden

Find activities and opportunities for young people, including youth clubs and projects