Bristol Young Heroes nomination

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2026

Help us celebrate Bristol’s young heroes by nominating a young person today.

The young person you are nominating needs to live in a BS Postcode and be aged between 11-19.

NOMINATE A YOUNG HERO!
NOMINATE FOR THE HIGH SHERIFF AWARD
NOMINATE FOR THE TEAM OF HEROES AWARD

Empower your young person!

87%

Of nominees reported a significant boost in self-confidence, aspiration and said they were more likely to try something new.

Categories

Action Hero A young person who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to display an act of courage and bravery or someone who has overcome adversity through illness or disability.
Caring Hero A young person who is looking after someone who is ill may this be a family member/friend/neighbour or helping them by looking after the other members of their family while they can’t.
Community Hero The Community Hero is a young person who has made a significant and positive impact within their local community. This person demonstrates exceptional kindness, leadership, and dedication to helping others, often going above and beyond to make a difference. Whether through creating meaningful projects, or supporting those in need.
Creative Hero A young person who has exceeded expectations, accomplished something great or inspired others through their creativity. This can include music, dance, film, theatre, arts etc.
Environmental & Sustainability
Hero A young person who is contributing to or co-ordinating activity into having a positive impact to the environment, Locally, City Wide or Nationally.
Fundraising Hero A young person who, through hard work and dedication has undertaken an outstanding challenge to raise money and make a noticeable difference for communities, charities, and other organisations.
Learning Hero A young person who has exceeded expectations and achieved success, made progress, or is continually developing in their education, especially by overcoming adversity or challenging circumstances.
Sporting Hero A young person who has exceeded expectations and triumphed in sport, especially by over coming adversity or challenging circumstances.
Super Hero A young person who has contributed to the community by volunteering their time freely, showing their commitment to a cause and a willingness to go above and beyond to inspire and help others.
High Sheriffs Award No age limit, Someone who has shown considerable dedication to the service of Young people.
Team Award This is a group or organisation which has shown exceptional team skills and dedication to benefit young people in Bristol

A young person who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to display an act of courage and bravery or someone who has overcome adversity through illness or disability.

A young person who is looking after someone who is ill may this be a family member/friend/neighbour or helping them by looking after the other members of their family while they can’t

The Community Hero is a young person who has made a significant and positive impact within their local community. This person demonstrates exceptional kindness, leadership, and dedication to helping others, often going above and beyond to make a difference. Whether through creating meaningful projects, or supporting those in need.

A young person who has exceeded expectations, accomplished something great or inspired others through their creativity. This can include music, dance, film, theatre, arts etc.

A young person who is contributing to or co-ordinating activity designed to have a positive impact on the environment, locally, city wide or nationally.

This may be done through reducing waste, restoring, and improving conservation for wildlife as well educating others on what they can do to protect the environment.

A young person who, through hard work and dedication has undertaken an outstanding challenge to raise money and make a noticeable difference for communities, charities, and other organisations.

A young person who has exceeded expectations and achieved success, made progress, or is continually developing in their education, especially by overcoming adversity or challenging circumstances.

A young person who has exceeded expectation and triumphed in sport, especially by overcoming adversity or challenging circumstances.

They may have performed beyond their years, achieved noticeable success or performed above and beyond expectations, they may have overcome significant obstacles to take part in sport or they may have inspired others with their spirit and dedication.

A young person who has contributed to the community by volunteering their time freely, showing their commitment to a cause and a willingness to go above and beyond to inspire and help others. This could be volunteering with youth groups, community groups, sports groups etc

No age limit, someone who has shown considerable dedication to the service or young people.

This is a group or organisation which has shown exceptional team skills and dedication to benefiting young people in Bristol.

Nomination advice

  • Please remember when thinking about your nomination, our judges won’t know anything about them. They won’t have any identifiable information like organisation or name so please make sure you give as much detail to paint a picture for our judges. For more information about what are judges are looking for please see the judging criteria below.

How it works

1. Nominations

Nominate a young person aged 11-19 with a BS postcode who deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Pick one of our categories and submit one application per young person.



2. Judging Rounds

We have two stages of judging. The first stage is done by the Youth Council where they will choose 3 finalists per category.  
The second round is done by business representatives in the City who will choose one winner per category.

3. Finalists are announced

Nominators will be contacted to let them know whether their nomination has been successful. All finalists will be announced via our social media.


4a. Filming & Headshots

We will be filming nominators telling us why they have nominated their finalists. Your finalist will need to join you on this date so we can capture some footage of why they have been nominated. For example, if they have been nominated for volunteering at a youth club, we will want to get some footage of them volunteering at the youth club.

 

6. Getting to Know you event

All finalists are invited to this event.

This is an opportunity for Community of Purpose to get to know you better and for finalists to meet each other.

The event will be fun, interactive and will help lead to longer lasting connections.


4b. Dates for Filming

The following dates, our videographer will be available from 8am – 9pm.

TBC

7. Awards Night

Finalist receive 3 tickets, including their own to attend the awards night.

Joint or team of finalists will receive 4 tickets including their own.

All winners will be announced on the night of the awards.



5. Nominees Reception

All finalists and nominators to attend the Nominee’s Reception.

It’s a chance for our finalists to meet each other, share stories, and build connections with fellow nominees. Plus, they get to interact with the investors of the program, which could open doors for exciting opportunities down the road.

8. Purposeful Pathways

Purposeful Pathways has been developed to signpost the young finalists and winners towards the opportunities available to them, well beyond the duration of the awards.

The programme provides our finalists with mentoring, goal setting, networking events and career workshops, with bespoke support provided by peers and professionals.

This will begin in September 2025.

Nominate

Nominations are now closed for 2026.

Questions for NominationsDownload
NOMINATE A YOUNG HERO!
NOMINATE FOR THE HIGH SHERIFF AWARD
NOMINATE FOR THE TEAM OF HEROES AWARD

Judging Criteria

  1. How closely does the young person’s achievement relate to the award category they have been nominated for?
  2. Give a score for the young person’s ability to overcome obstacles and adversity. Consider the nominee’s ability to overcome challenges, setbacks, or obstacles.
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s resilience and determination. They will assess the nominee’s ability to face, persist through and overcome challenging or adverse situations.
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s courage and Integrity. They. will assess the nominee’s courage in confronting their difficulties even when facing hardship.
  1. Judges will be looking at he young person’s selflessness and humility. They will assess the nominee’s selflessness and willingness to help others without seeking personal gain or recognition. 
  2. Judges will be looking a the young person’s compassion and kindness. They will assess the nominees acts of kindness for others and the positive impact of these actions
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s dedication and commitment to their community. Assess their long term involvement, using their initiative and going above and beyond to support their community.
  2. Judges will be looking at the positive impact they had had on others. They will assess the influence they have had on their peers and community.
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s passion and ability to inspire and impact others.
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s achievement beyond standard expectations. They will assess the level of the nominee’s accomplishments and how much their achievements surpass the usual standards. 
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s passion and ability to inspire and impact others. They will assess whether they have inspired others and contributed positively to the environment and making a difference. 
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s focus on creating lasting change and the benefits being created by the nominee’s actions. They will assess measurable outcomes and consider the long-term change by their actions. 
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s compassion and kindness. They will assess the nominees acts of kindness for others and the positive impact of these actions.
  2. Judges will be looking at the nominee’s commitment to the cause. They will assess the nominee’s dedication and long-term commitment to the cause or organisation they support. Look for evidence of consistent involvement, passion for the cause and willingness to go above and beyond. 
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s achievement beyond standard expectations. They will assess the level of the nominee’s accomplishments and how much their achievements surpass the usual standards.
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s resilience and determination. They will assess the nominee’s ability to face, persist through and overcome challenging or adverse situations.
  1. Judges will be looking at the young person’s resilience and determination. They will assess the nominee’s ability to face, persist through and overcome challenging or adverse situations.
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s achievement beyond standard expectations. They will assess the level of the nominee’s accomplishments and how much their achievements surpass the usual standards.
  1. Judges will be looking at the nominees’ commitment to the cause. They will assess the nominee’s dedication and long-term commitment to the cause or organisation they support. Look for evidence of consistent involvement, passion for the cause and willingness to go above and beyond.
  2. Judges will be looking at the young person’s compassion and kindness. They will assess the nominees acts of kindness for others and the positive impact of these actions.
  1. Judges will be looking at how closely does the teams achievement relate to the award category they have been nominated for?
  2. They will be looking for the team’s commitment to the community and others.
  3. They will be looking for the team’s positive impact on young people.
  4. They will be assessing the teams collaboration and teamwork. Consider the team’s ability to work cohesively and effectively.
  5. They will be looking a the team’s sustainability and long-term benefits.

Previous winners

FAQs

Anyone can nominate a young person for the Bristol Young Heroes Awards, including self-nominations.

There are 9 Award categories that anyone living in a BS Postcode and aged between 11-19 can be nominated for. In addition, there is a Team of Heroes Award, for a team that has supported our young people in Bristol. As well as the high sheriff’s Award for an individual that has shown considerable dedication to the service of Young People

Bristol Young Hero Awards 2020 Nominees

No! If you’ve got a young person in mind then it should only take you 10 minutes to make your nomination.

Our panel of judges will review all nominations and shortlist 3 nominees for each of the categories

Yes! Aside from an invitation to the Awards night (with 2 guests), successful nominees will get access to services like suit hire, hair styling, and a free shopping voucher to get ready for the big night

It’s best to ask former nominees, but they’ve told us it’s life-changing!

Take one former winner in 2019 who is now on the Youth Council for Bristol City Council and obtained work experience with GKN Aerospace!

Watch previous nominees speak about being nominated