The winners of the Social Action Superstars Award was The Other Direction, a group supported by NE Youth.

This inspiring group took on the growing issue of vaping among young people. They began by listening to their peers and carrying out their own research, before transforming what they learned into a powerful creative campaign for change.

Their work didn't stop in their own community - their message reached much further, even being shared at a professional NHS conference, sparking wider conversations about youth voice and health. This group is a brilliant example of young people leading the way, using their voices to educate, influence and create real impact.

Our Exceptional Facilitator award went to Lauren Douglass, supporting people at Family Gateway! 

Lauren has shown outstanding commitment to the young people she supports through the KEY+ Challenge. She consistently goes above and beyond to create opportunities for young people to lead their own projects, step outside their comfort zones, and make a real difference in their communities.

Her dedication to empowering young people has helped them build confidence, develop new skills, and grow in self-belief - truly embodying what KEY+ is about.

The Pitch Innovators of 2026 Award went to Gourmet Gurus, supported by King James I Academy! 

Pitching to a panel takes real courage and creativity and this group brought both. They impressed the judges with a standout presentation that combined a brilliantly edited video with a detailed supporting information pack.

Their pitch clearly demonstrated strong planning, budgeting, research and skills development throughout - showing how much thought and effort went into every detail.

A confident, creative and unique delivery that really set them apart and made their idea shine!

A huge congratulations to Shivangi Pandey, winner of the Volunteer of the Year! 

Despite being new to our volunteer community, Shivangi has already gone above and beyond in supporting young people on their Panel. She regularly steps in at short notice, travels to support sessions, and has already taken part in a high number of panels.

Her positivity, professionalism, and ability to create a welcoming environment have made a real impact in a short space of time.

Smells like TEAM Spirit!!!! of Hebburn Comprehensive School took the crown! 

Their clever, quirky name stood out and stole the show in the public vote!

The Unique KEY+ Project of 2026 Award went to.... Animals in Outer Space, supported by Foundation of Light!

This group truly stood out for their creativity and originality, transforming a shared interest of space into an engaging, educating series full of humour, characters and debate-style content.

They pushed themselves out of their comfort zone too, even visiting the Space Centre and using a telescope to bring new knowledge and excitement into their project.

Gateshead Youth Council were recognised for their long-standing commitment to youth voice and their deep-rooted belief in young people's ability to lead change. They consistently embed KEY+ at the heart of their work, supporting young people to think creatively, explore ideas, and deliver meaningful projects.

A brilliant partner who have championed youth-led work for decades - thank you and well done!

This years KEY+ Inspirational Group of the Year Award goes to The Duck Tilters - a group who proved what can happen when young people are given space, support and belief to grow. 

Throughout their KEY+ journey, they overcame challenges around confidence, attendance and working together, but stayed committed to each other and the project even when things weren't straightforward.

As a group, they built friendships, developed key life skills and grew hugely in self-belief. One member in particular showed a real shift in mindset and behaviour, achieving things they once felt were out of reach.

Their journey is a powerful example of resilience, growth and transformation. 

This group was supported by Bilton Hall Community Trust.

The KEY+ Completers of 2026 Award went to The Funky Phoenixes. This group was supported by Gateshead Youth Council.

This award celebrates an inspirational group who didn’t just complete all three stages of KEY+ - they smashed it.

From a group of shy and nervous young people, they've grown into confident leaders driving real environmental change - from reducing single-use plastics and improving recycling in schools to engaging directly with school leadership. 

They also expanded their impact by leading an eco-challenge across primary schools in Gateshead, inspiring younger pupils to take action for the environment.

This group have shown a powerful journey of confidence, leadership and lasting community impact.