Sixteen young people from across Leicester and Leicestershire were honoured for their dedication and personal achievements at the Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for Young People ceremony, held at County Hall on 30 April 2026. Now in its 20th year, the programme recognised the efforts of local youth following a selection process that drew more than 80 nominations.
The top honour of Lord-Lieutenant’s Young Person of the Year 2026 was awarded to Rhianna Reid, an 18-year-old student at Loughborough College. In addition to winning the Young Volunteer category, Reid was recognised for her commitment as a young carer for her father and sister. Her efforts to raise awareness for the experiences of young carers have seen her present her story to audiences of over 100 people.
Other category winners were highlighted for their significant contributions to the community. Eve, an 18-year-old from the Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth, received the award for Young Person of Courage. She was recognised for founding ‘Let’s Make A Difference’ to support young people with communication difficulties, drawing on her own experiences with autism and selective mutism.
The Young Leader award was presented to 16-year-old Hamza Tempah of Leicester, who has consulted on care experiences and presented a report on creating safer spaces for young people in care at the House of Lords. Olivia Van Der Ende, a 17-year-old student at Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, won the Young Artist category, which is known as The Joe Humphries Memorial Award.
The awards, hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE CStJ, provide each category winner with a prize of £500. The overall winner of the Young Person of the Year title also receives a special trophy for their achievements.
Reflecting on the milestone 20th anniversary of the programme, the Leicestershire County Council-supported awards continue to focus on celebrating the bravery, creativity, and selflessness of young people living or studying in the region.
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