Ealing’s Young People and Community Champions Celebrated at 2026 Awards

Young volunteers, entrepreneurs, activists and community leaders have been recognised for their achievements at the 2026 Young Ealing Foundation Awards, celebrating some of the people making a difference to children and young people across the borough.

Ealing's next generation took centre stage as the Young Ealing Foundation Awards 2026 celebrated outstanding young people alongside the professionals and community organisations supporting them.

The annual awards were presented on Thursday 1 October at ECC on Northfield Avenue, the Grade II-listed former Odeon cinema.

Ten awards were presented, covering everything from entrepreneurship and volunteering to leadership, overcoming adversity and organisations making a major impact on young people's lives. 

At a Glance

• The Young Ealing Foundation Awards took place on 1 October 2026
• The ceremony was held at ECC, Northfields
• This was the fifth year of the awards
• Ten award categories recognised young people and those supporting them
• Categories included Young Volunteer, Young Entrepreneur, Young Activist and Young Leader
• Other awards recognised partnership working, tackling inequality and youth professionals
• Young Ealing Foundation says its network supports 132 organisations
• Those organisations collectively reach more than 67,000 children and young people across Ealing. Ealing News

Celebrating Ealing's Young Achievers

Rather than concentrating on one type of achievement, the awards recognise the many different ways young people contribute to their communities.

Rafia Bhutta was named Young Volunteer, while Alexander Frank received the Young Activist award.

The Young Entrepreneur award went to Omar Tibi, recognising the entrepreneurial talent developing among the borough's younger generation.

And Ivan Ratkovic was named Young Leader.

Together, the categories highlight something that can sometimes be overlooked in everyday local news: young people aren't simply recipients of community services — many are already actively shaping the communities around them. 

2026 Young Ealing Foundation Award Winners

Stepping Stones Together Celebrated Twice

One organisation had an especially successful evening.

Stepping Stones Together won the Spaces for Young People category and, together with Brunel University, also won the Partnership award. 

The organisation works with children and families, with a particular emphasis on supporting children with autism and raising awareness of SEND.

Its recognition at the awards demonstrates the important role relatively small community organisations can play alongside much larger institutions.

Recognising Those Who Support Young People

The awards deliberately extend beyond young individual achievers.

The Violence Intervention Project (VIP) received the Big Impact award, while The Proper Project won the category for Fighting Inequality.

Baylee Mitchell was recognised as Outstanding Youth Professional.

This combination is important because behind many successful young people there is often a youth worker, volunteer, teacher, mentor or community organisation providing support that receives relatively little public attention,the awards give those people a share of the spotlight too. 

More Than 67,000 Young People Reached

Perhaps one of the most striking numbers to emerge from the event concerns the scale of Ealing's youth and voluntary sector.

Young Ealing Foundation chief executive Elly Heaton said the organisation is proud to support 132 organisations reaching more than 67,000 children and young people across Ealing. 

That puts the awards into perspective.

The ten winners represent only a fraction of the youth work taking place across the borough every week.

Much of that activity happens away from headlines — in youth clubs, community centres, schools, sports organisations, mentoring programmes and voluntary groups.

Five Years of Celebrating Young Ealing

The 2026 ceremony marked the fifth year of the Young Ealing Foundation Awards.

The event has developed into a major gathering for Ealing's youth and voluntary sector, bringing young people together with charities, community organisations, businesses and other local partners.

More than 300 guests had been expected for this year's event. 

Young Ealing Foundation describes its purpose as connecting grassroots youth charities, supporters and decision-makers to help create better opportunities for children and young people in the borough.

Reasons to Be Proud of Young Ealing

Awards nights inevitably focus on winners.

But there is a broader message here.

Alongside the ten people and organisations taking home awards were numerous other finalists and nominees already doing valuable work across Ealing.

They include young volunteers giving up their time, entrepreneurs starting something new, activists campaigning for change, young leaders helping others and professionals devoting their careers to supporting children.

That is why this story deserves more than a list of award winners.

It provides a snapshot of the talent, determination and community spirit among young people throughout the London Borough of Ealing.

And with organisations in the Young Ealing Foundation network collectively reaching tens of thousands of children and young people, the impact extends far beyond one awards evening.

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