Young people who have made a positive impact on their local communities are urged to enter a UK-wide competition.
Now in its second year, the annual CHANGEit Awards look to recognise the inspiring young campaigners who come up with innovative ways to change society for the better and can offer winners a £750 cash prize.
Run by leadership development group Common Purpose in partnership with Deutsche Bank, the awards aim to acknowledge the 11-18 year-olds who are a force for good.
Julia Middleton, chief executive of Common Purpose, said it was important to celebrate the positive impact young people have.
She explained:
"It seems like there is a new story every week of a young person committing a serious crime and this is overshadowing the amazing work that young people are doing in their communities throughout the UK.
"The CHANGEit awards highlight and remind people of the valuable role that young people have in our society."
The contest is open to bids in three categories:
- Performance Award - for young people who have taken action on issues they care about and taken part in campaigns to create positive change in their community.
- Innovation Award – a helping hand for young people to get their campaigning ideas off the ground.
- Photo Award - for young people who have captured images of "campaigning in action" that have been started or helped by other young people.
Overall winners in the Performance and Innovation categories will each receive £750, with a number of finalists also scooping a £250 consolation prize. Winners in the Photo Award section will receive a £250 prize and have their photographs exhibited at a number of CHANGEit events.
Applications are made online, and all entries must be endorsed by an adult who is not a family member of any of the applicants, for example, a youth leader or teacher.
The deadline for entering is 12 January 2009. The prizes will be announced in May.
For more information about the competition and to enter online, visit the
CHANGEit website