Young LGBTQ+ People
CATEGORIES
ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR
The young LGBTQ+ person whose work and actions challenge establishments and fight for political and systemic change on the issues experienced by the LGBTQ+ community in the UK.
Please carefully consider whether the work being shared for this category is the work of an activist or a role model before submitting nominations.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
What qualities the person you have nominated has that makes them an activist, particularly for young LGBTQ+ people.
How they engage other people with their work.
What impact their work has had now and/or in the future.
ALLY OF THE YEAR
The individual whose actions stand in solidarity with, and openly supports, the advancement of issues affecting groups and individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
Individuals can not nominate themselves for this category.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
What qualities the person you have nominated has that makes them an ally for the LGBTQ+ community, especially young people.
Specific examples of actions they have taken which challenges discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and/or educates others about the issues that they face.
Any additional actions they have taken which openly support and advocate for issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
The best event, initiative or research project, led by an individual student or community group, which aims to raise awareness of an issue specific to the LGBTQ+ community in the UK.
Original initiatives nominated can have been delivered online, in-person or both. Their duration can range from a specific date to a longer-term awareness raising campaign.
Nominations detailing events that have been delivered in support of another organisation, such as fundraising for a specific charity campaign, are not included.
Events, initiatives and/or projects must have been completed.
The community group must be run (in the majority) by young LGBTQ+ people aged 16-24 years old.
Your entry should tell us:
What specific LGBTQ+ issue the event, initiative or research project highlighted and why this was chosen.
Who the event, initiative or research project aimed to increase awareness amongst, and why this was important.
What was the impact of the event, initiative or research project and how did you know this?
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR:
Student
The LGBTQ+ student whose work most inspires the people around them.
This category is open to nominations that recognise any U.K. student currently enrolled at a U.K. school, college or university including postgraduates.
Please carefully consider whether the work being shared for this category is the work of a role model or an activist before submitting nominations.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
What qualities the person nominated has that makes them a positive role model for the LGBTQ+ community.
Specific examples of specific LGBTQ+ focused work which they have led or been significantly involved in delivering.
How their work impacts upon the LGBTQ+ community and/or other young people.
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
The young LGBTQ+ person whose tireless work and efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community and/or other young people may have gone unnoticed.
This category includes those not in education, employment or training and those who are self-employed. Individuals can be nominated or nominate themselves.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
What drives and motivates you to work tirelessly to support the LGBTQ+ community and/or other young people.
What barriers you may have faced to date and how you may have potentially overcome them. What support you need to take your work to the next level?
How you feel this person has positively impacted on the LGBTQ+ community.
WIN A £1,000 INVESTMENT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP
In 2025 the QSAs will be giving one student community group the power to make impactful and positive change for more young LGBTQ+ people in their school, college or university or local community with a £1,000 investment into a project of their choice.
WHAT WILL YOU CHANGE?
** NEW FOR 2025 **
Everyone entering will also be able to share additional information that they think is relevant to the category they are entering for the judges to consider when judging.