Flourish Awards return for 2026 - submit your nominations now!
The Flourish Awards are returning for 2026 - shining a spotlight on the remarkable people, projects, teams and organisations helping children and young people in Norfolk to flourish.
Hosted by the Children and Young People Strategic Alliance (CYPSA), the awards celebrate and recognise those who make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people. Now in its fourth year, the Flourish Awards continue to honour the hundreds of inspiring nominees since its launch.
Last year's Flourish Awards received nearly 600 nominations for more than 250 different nominees. This included people, projects, teams and organisations. The 16 finalists were celebrated at the awards ceremony at The Assembly House in Norwich.
Nominations are open now and can be made by anyone; members of the public or professionals. Schools, charities, businesses, projects, teams and individuals working with children and young people in Norfolk are all eligible. Winners will be chosen by a panel of children and young people and parents/carers, including representatives from Norfolk's Youth Advisory Boards and other youth-led groups.
Nominations can be submitted at www.norfolk.gov.uk/flourishawards2026 until 29 May 2026.
There are eight award categories, each shaped around key areas of young people's lives:
- Family and Friends Award
- Learning Award
- Opportunity Award
- Understood Award
- Resilience Award
- Individuality Award
- Safe and Secure Award
- Healthy Award
Evie, a young compère for the Flourish Awards in 2025 and part of the Breckland Youth Advisory Board, said: "The Flourish Awards made a positive impact on me as it gave me something to do and look forward to! It allowed me to feel important and was a big honour to take part in something so impactful and wonderful which helps many people my age.
"It made me feel comfortable and confident I know how to stand and act on stage. Thank you so much for everything you did for me whilst being involved for the Flourish awards, I will never forget it."
Aidan, a young person who was also involved in 2025 Flourish Awards, said: "Being part of the flourish awards was such a pleasure, and I would happily do it again. The positive impact it has made on me was it has boosted my confidence to speak openly to people and lead me to other public speeches.
"What makes the Flourish Awards unique is that it recognises all the support from businesses and charities when it comes to young people. To make young people the hosts was also special, as it gives us the chance to have that responsibility and hopefully lead to other great things."
Sara Tough OBE, Executive Director of Children's Services at Norfolk County Council said: "Hosted by the Children and Young People Strategic Alliance, which I am proud to chair, the Flourish Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the people and organisations who go above and beyond for children and young people in Norfolk.
"The awards are inspired by the things young people have told us are most important to them. Anyone can nominate a project, school, charity, business, team or individual. The only criteria for nominees are that they work with children and young people, are based in Norfolk and have achieved something incredible that is supporting our children and young people in Norfolk to flourish."
The nomination process is simple, and you can submit as many nominations as you wish until the closing date, Friday 29 May 2026.
To nominate, visit: www.norfolk.gov.uk/flourishawards2026
