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In this special edition of the Youth Work bulletin, we are shining a light on the winners of the 2025 Youth Work Excellence Awards.
The Youth Work Excellence Award are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the breadth of outstanding youth work projects, youth workers and those involved in youth work across Wales. The awards always attract a large number of nominations and this year was no exception.
Judging panels met earlier in 2026 to consider each nomination received. Selecting a winner from this strong field of finalists was not easy. We’d like to thank all the judges for their time and diligence in carefully considering each nomination and agreeing a winner for each award category.
A huge congratulations to all the winners. A fantastic achievement!
These awards remind us once again of the strength and diversity of the youth work sector in Wales and its impact on the lives of young people.
You can learn more about the winners and runners up at the Youth Work Excellence Awards’ dedicated website.
Please share these stories far and wide to help showcase the impact of youth work in Wales. To help us amplify these stories, please consider using the following hashtags in any social media posts.
- #GwobrauGwaithIeuenctid2026
- #YouthWorkAwards2026
Recognising excellence in collaborative youth work delivered through strong local partnerships
 Winner: Gabalfa Youth and Community Centre, Cardiff Youth Service
By working in partnership, Cardiff Youth Service has transformed Gabalfa’s community centre into a safe and vibrant space that fosters community pride and provides myriad opportunities for young people in their local community.
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Runners up:
- Lle Da, GISDA
- Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS), Rhondda Cynon Taf
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Celebrating projects working across local authority boundaries
 Winner: Positive Masculinity Initiative, Media Academy Cymru
A transformative initiative which tackles the harmful influence of toxic masculinity and online misogyny. The programme creates safe, supportive spaces where young people can explore emotions, challenge harmful norms and develop empathy, critical thinking and respect for others.
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Runners up:
- Mind Our Future Gwent, ProMo Cymru and Mind in Gwent
- My Things Matter, National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) Cymru
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Highlighting the creative use of digital approaches to support reach, quality or impact
 Joint winners: Anglesey Youth Service and Cardiff Youth Service
Powerful examples of digital innovation in youth work, using VR to help young people explore the consequences of behaviour in a safe and supportive environment. Both projects were commended for also equipping colleagues across education, health and policing with the knowledge, empathy and practical skills needed to recognise and respond more effectively to trauma-related behaviour.
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Runner up:
- Cynllun Profi, Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr
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Recognising excellence in ensuring youth work opportunities are accessible and inclusive
 Winner: LGBTQ+ Service, YMCA Swansea
A hugely impactful service which has grown exponentially into a service that reaches thousands of LGBTQ+ young people across Wales. Through education programmes, professional training and school-based work, the programme is also helping to shift attitudes, challenge stigma and empower young people to lead change within their own communities.
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Runners up:
- Spectrwm Youth Forum - The Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS)
- Young Persons Advisory Group, National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) Cymru
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Recognising exemplary leaders who have positively impacted the lives of young people and inspired others to do the same
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Winner: Annette Harrison, Vale of Glamorgan Youth Service
Annette’s leadership inspires both colleagues and young people and creates an environment where innovation thrives. She has transformed access to outdoor youth work across the Vale of Glamorgan and her various community and intergenerational projects have empowered young people to become active citizens and positive contributors to their communities.
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Runners up:
- Steve Drowley, Education Training Standards (ETS) Wales
- Ali Abdi, Grange Pavilion
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Recognising an individual who has had an exceptional impact on the lives of young people
 Winner: Nazrul Islam
Nazrul Islam has made an outstanding impact to the lives of young people across Newport. Through his work with EYST Wales and Bengal Dragons Foundation, Nazrul has become the ‘go to’ person in times of need, acting as a vital link between young people, parents, schools and other services. His dedication, compassion and cultural understanding is helping to build stronger, more resilient communities by empowering the next generation with skills, confidence, and aspirations
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Runners up:
- Matt Mullender, Conwy Youth Service
- Kate-Marie Mitchell, POINT Youth Centre, Fishguard and Goodwick Young Persons Trust
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Highlighting the contribution of a volunteer who has made an exceptional contribution to youth work in Wales
 Winner: Rayya Bocus - National Youth Advocacy Service Cymru (NYAS) Cymru
Rayya Bocus has created meaningful and lasting change for care experienced young people across Wales. As a volunteer with National Youth Advocacy Service Cymru (NYAS Cymru), Rayya has drawn on her own lived experiences to inform policy, influence decision makers, challenge inequality and ensure young people’s voices are heard where it matters most. Rayya’s dedication, courage and impact make her a truly outstanding volunteer and a role model for young people across Wales.
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Runners up:
- Amira Begum, Grange Pavilion Youth Forum
- Tal Davies, Community House Youth Project
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Celebrating emerging talent in the youth work sector
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Winner: Imogen Watkins, Cwmbran Centre for Young People
Imogen Watkins, a sessional youth worker at Cwmbran Centre for Young People, demonstrates commitment, compassion and a natural ability to connect with young people. Judges considered her achievements all the more impressive given her own youthfulness – Imogen has already achieved so much and is considered a true rising star.
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Runner up:
- Abdullah Shams Alrawas, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team (EYST) Wales
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Recognising projects or services that evidence innovation in developing youth work provision through the medium of Welsh
 Winner: Welsh Curriculum Group, Caerphilly Youth Service
Caerphilly Youth Service’s Welsh Curriculum Group has led to a dramatic increase in the use of Welsh across all settings. Through the Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage Programme, young people have been engaged with different aspects of Welsh language and culture with a monthly Eisteddfod building connection and friendly competition. Alongside formal Welsh language courses for staff, the Group has also created innovative resources for staff which have helped unlock latent Welsh language skills and built the confidence of staff to use their Welsh on a daily basis.
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Runners up:
- Urdd Gobaith Cymru
- RIFF, Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf
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