To mark 20 years of the CYP Now Awards, we will be honouring the 20 individuals that have made the biggest contribution - as determined by our judges - to improving the lives of children over the past 20 years. These are people who in various ways have advanced the cause of children, young people and families over the past two decades and more. You can nominate someone (no self-nominations) to be considered as one of the 20 changemakers for children by submitting the form here.

This award recognises a service or project that is delivering exceptional life outcomes for children and young people who have a special educational need or disability (SEND.) The winning entry will demonstrate the impact that their organisation/project has had in supporting neurodivergent children and young people to achieve their potential and participate fully in learning – whether that is in an education setting or through extra-curricular activities. The award is open to schools and education providers, youth groups, children’s charities and CICs, local authorities and other public bodies, or other service providers that are supporting those aged 0-25.

This award is for a service or project that is harnessing the benefits of sport or physical activity for children’s physical and mental health. Entries could be a play scheme to boost active time for early years children, a public health initiative to reduce obesity levels for schoolchildren, or free sports coaching sessions for disadvantaged young people to improve their wellbeing and reduce screentime. The award is open to sports clubs, children’s charities and CICs, education providers from 0-18, youth organisations, health providers and other public bodies. Judges will be looking for entries that deliver inclusivity and innovation to improve health outcomes.

For the project or service that has demonstrated outstanding practice in preventing youth violence. This could be diversion scheme, mentoring project or education programme run by a national charity, community group or public agency such as a local authority, hospital trust or Violence Reduction Unit. Entries will need to show evidence of how their work has reduced the risk of violence or violent incidents.

For the adult individual who has achieved significant improvements in the lives of children or young people, especially among disadvantaged or excluded groups, through campaigning, lobbying, boosting participation or other activities. Entries must include a description of their work and its impact. Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague(s).

Recognises exceptional work to support young people to achieve good education, employment and training outcomes. Judges are particularly interested in projects that aim to support the near one-million 16- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. Entries could be from a school-based careers advice service, a work skills programme run by a youth charity, or a job-taster scheme for inactive young people run by an employer.

For the initiative that has done the most to inspire children and young people in cultural activities, such as music, dance, drama or the visual arts, especially among disadvantaged groups, and where collaboration is shown between public services, the cultural sector and children and young people.

For the charity that has made the most impressive contribution, at a local, regional or national level, in improving the life chances of children, young people or families. Achievements will have been driven through a combination of innovative practice, effective partnership working or campaigning for change. Entries are open to charities of any size.

For the local authority or care provider – voluntary sector or private operator - that has done the most to improve outcomes for looked-after children or young people, whether in residential care, foster care or other types of placement. The judges are looking for examples of exceptional teamwork, collaboration between commissioners and providers, and improved children’s outcomes.

For the group of young people that has made a positive contribution to their own community or nationally through activities such as volunteering, campaigning or advising delivery organisations. The group must be nominated by an adult professional or an organisation that has supported them.

For the service or project that has harnessed the use of digital platforms and technologies to deliver effective interventions and strengthen relationships with service users. This category is open to organisations directly delivering support to children, young people and families, and systems providers who can demonstrate the beneficial impact a digital innovation has had on disadvantaged children’s outcomes. Judges will be looking for evidence of how digital interventions have been used in an innovative way to address long-standing or emerging problems children experience.

For the initiative that has intervened early and most effectively with children and young people at risk from problems such as poor health, dropping out of education, homelessness, crime or substance misuse, and prevented the transmission of poor outcomes from one generation to the next.

For the initiative that has done the most to improve the life chances of children under five, especially among disadvantaged or hard-to-reach communities. This could include boosting literacy rates, helping families to access funded childcare, or improving children’s diets and physical health. Entries are open to nurseries, nursery schools, children’s centres, family hubs and childminders, as well as local authorities.

For the initiative or service that has done the most to support whole families to help their children lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives safe from harm. The judges are looking in particular for work that has helped challenging or disadvantaged families. Entries could be from children’s centres or family hubs, parenting programme providers, Family First Partnerships’ or domestic abuse services.

For the initiative that has made the best contribution to improving the educational achievement and narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged children and young people who do not have a SEND. Entries could be an early years initiative to improve school readiness, an imaginative use of pupil premium funding to support the educational development of children in care, or a training scheme for young people who are struggling to transition from education to employment. Judges will consider entries from mainstream settings, organisations supporting specific groups, education providers and local authority-led programmes.

For the initiative that has done the most to help young people leaving the care system make a smooth and successful transition to adulthood by supporting their accommodation, health, housing, and training and employment needs. Judges will be looking for examples where young people have played a key role in planning their independent living.

For the initiative that has done the most to transform the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, whether through prevention, early intervention or treatment. Entries are open to CAMHS, school-based Mental Health Support Teams, public and voluntary sector providers, NHS community and in-patient services, and specialist support services.

For the multi-agency project or team that has made the greatest improvement to children’s, young people’s and families’ lives. This applies to partnership working between public sector agencies as well as those involving organisations in the voluntary and private sectors. Judges will be looking for evidence of how the creation of the partnership has strengthened delivery and outcomes.

For the initiative that has done the most to offer children and young people the opportunities to play freely, enjoy childhood and contribute to their social, emotional and physical development. Entries could include campaigns to protect play provision from closure, the refurbishment of play settings or schemes that promote inclusive play opportunities. The judges will look for work that has enabled children to follow their own ideas and interests, and in their own way.

For public sector teams that can demonstrate outstanding practice and impact in improving outcomes for children, young people or families. Entries are open to teams and departments within local authorities across the UK, local and regional health services, and public agencies with a national remit.

For the initiative that has made the biggest contribution to keeping children and young people safe from harm. This could be a specialist child protection team, project to support exploited young people, a school-based or sports club initiative or specialist online safety service. Judges will be looking for examples of exceptional teamwork and multi-agency working.

For the recruitment or training initiative that has done the most to improve the skills and ability of a workforce - across a sector, an organisation or team. This could be an innovative campaign to sell the benefits of working for your organisation or a skills development programme that enables staff to enhance support. Entries will need to demonstrate impact which might include metrics such as reduced vacancy and sickness rates or positive workforce wellbeing surveys and show how an initiative has helped improve services and outcomes for children.

For the initiative that has made the biggest contribution to improving the life chances of young people who have offended, or those at risk of offending or reoffending. Entries are invited from local authorities, youth offending teams and youth services, custody settings and transition housing providers, as well as voluntary organisations and individual projects.

For the initiative that has enabled children or young people to make a difference in their communities or to their peers, through volunteering, social action or campaigning. The judges are looking for entries where children and young people have taken the lead in planning, organising and delivering the work.

For the initiative that has done the most to promote young people’s personal development and help them achieve their potential through youth work, informal education and participation in positive activities, especially among disadvantaged or excluded groups. Judges will look for evidence of coproduction and youth-defined outcomes in entries.