Youth Sport Trust Conference Awards 2027

Achievement | Enrichment | Inclusion | Play | Wellbeing

Tuesday 23 February 2027

Telford International Centre

Help us celebrate the people, schools, settings and organisations transforming young lives through PE, sport and play.

Nominations open on Monday 5 October and close on Friday 20 November 2026.

The Youth Sport Trust Conference Awards celebrate schools, settings, trusts and individuals who, working alongside the Youth Sport Trust over the past year, have made a real and lasting difference to the lives of young people. They will be presented on Tuesday 23 February as part of the Youth Sport Trust Conference 2027.

We want to hear about work that is creating meaningful, lasting change: from building belonging and wellbeing to empowering young leaders, enriching school life and championing the power of play.

If you know a school, setting, trust, organisation or individual whose work deserves national recognition, submit a nomination by Friday 20 November 2026. Please read the category descriptions below before choosing the award that best reflects their impact.

Excellence in Enrichment

Recognises schools or settings that provide inspiring and intentional enrichment through school sport and physical activity. Through this offer, they build character, develop life and work skills, value young people's voices and raise aspirations for every young person.

Building Belonging Award

Awarded for excelling at creating a truly inclusive environment. It celebrates work that has successfully used PE, sport and play to engage and support young people, many of whom face a range of complex challenges, in their education outside a mainstream setting. We are particularly keen to see examples where improved belonging has positively affected young people’s happiness, health, attendance or engagement in learning. 

Empowering Young Leaders Award

Awarded for empowering young people to take on leadership roles. It recognises projects that have provided opportunities for students, at any age or stage, but especially those from underrepresented groups, to develop confidence, responsibility and essential life skills by co-designing, leading, organising or delivering sport and physical activity for their peers, within their school, trust or in their community. 

Outstanding Approach to Wellbeing Award

Children and young people are more effective learners when they are happy, healthy and thriving. Staff are better educators when they are genuinely supported. This award recognises a school, trust or setting committed to prioritising wellbeing alongside academic achievement and demonstrating a holistic, impactful approach to student and staff wellbeing by embedding the four Well School pillars. 

Transformational Achievement Award

Physical education, school sport and physical activity can drive significant positive change across key whole-school outcomes. This award recognises a school, trust or setting that has seen measurable improvements in student attendance, behaviour and academic outcomes through its approach to PE, school sport and physical activity. 

Inspiring Play Award

Every child should have access to time, space, opportunity and freedom to play. This award recognises approaches that have championed the power of play. It celebrates those who have created imaginative and engaging opportunities for unstructured and student-led play, highlighting the importance of free play in developing creativity, social skills and a lifelong love of being active. 

Campbell Award – Network Leader / Local Influencer Award

Awarded to a network leader who has influenced change in their area that had a positive impacted on schools and young people through PE, sport and play. 

After nominations close on Friday 20 November 2026, an independent judging panel representing education, youth sport and the wider sector will assess all eligible entries against the published category criteria and evidence of impact.

Finalists will be informed during the week commencing 14 December 2026, with winners notified by Wednesday 20 January 2027. All shortlisted nominees will be recognised at the Youth Sport Trust Conference Awards 2027 on Tuesday 23 February 2027 at Telford International Centre.