The Categories

Award Categories

The new HEY Charity Awards celebrate the remarkable charities, community groups, leaders, and partners who are transforming lives across Hull and East Yorkshire.

Our new award categories honour the innovators tackling local challenges, the teams and leaders driving change, the funders and partners empowering impact, and the creative, inclusive, and community-led projects making our region brighter and stronger.

These awards shine a light on the dedication, resilience, and compassion that define our sector and the people who make a real difference every day. Who will you nominate?

Environmental Award

Judges will look for:

Projects with clear, measurable positive environmental outcomes
Evidence of community engagement in sustainability or green initiatives
Innovation in addressing environmental challenges locally

Digital Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Initiatives that reduce digital barriers for disadvantaged groups
Demonstrable improvements in digital access, skills, or participation
Creative approaches to bridging the digital divide

Leader of The Year

Judges will look for:

Inspirational leadership that has significantly influenced an organisation’s direction or impact
A track record of resilience, innovation, and community-driven values
Leadership that empowers others and creates lasting change

Impact of The Year

Judges will look for:

Projects or organisations with outstanding, clearly evidenced outcomes
Tangible, lasting benefits to the community
Innovative solutions to pressing local needs

Team of The Year

Judges will look for:

Teams (staff or volunteers) showing exceptional collaboration and commitment
Evidence of team-driven achievements and impact
A culture of shared responsibility and innovation

Funder of The Year

Judges will look for:

Funders who go beyond financial support to empower and uplift local charities
Transparent, accessible, and impactful funding approaches
Evidence of positive outcomes enabled through their funding

Arts & Culture Award

Judges will look for:
|

Projects that use arts and culture to drive social change or community cohesion
Inclusion of diverse voices and access to cultural experiences
Strong creative outcomes and community impact

Children & Youth Award

Judges will look for:

Charities making a significant difference to children and young people’s lives
Youth involvement in design or delivery of services
Demonstrated improvements in safety, confidence, opportunity, or wellbeing

Education & Training Award

Judges will look for:

High-quality, accessible learning or skills development opportunities
Clear pathways to employment, confidence-building, or personal growth
Impactful delivery to disadvantaged or excluded groups

Partnership of The Year

Judges will look for:

Collaborative working between organisations to achieve shared goals
Evidence of combined impact that exceeds what could be done individually
Strong communication and shared values across partners

Sports & Active Award

Judges will look for:

Programs that use sport or physical activity to improve lives
Outcomes related to health, inclusion, or community engagement
Broad accessibility, particularly for underrepresented groups

Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Organisations promoting equality and access for all, regardless of background
Evidence of removing barriers and actively including marginalised groups
Demonstrated commitment to diversity in all aspects of work

Health & Wellbeing

Judges will look for:

Initiatives improving physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing
Holistic, community-led approaches with proven results
Projects that address health inequalities or prevent future health issues

Newcomer Award

Judges will look for:

Newly established charities or groups (within the past 2 years) making a significant early impact
Clear vision and strong foundations for growth
Evidence of community need and early success stories

Special Recognition

Judges will look for:

Exceptional service, dedication, or achievement not captured in other categories
A story that embodies the spirit of community and selflessness
Inspirational examples of going above and beyond for others

Submit a Nomination

✨ It’s free to nominate!
✨ Every shortlisted charity receives two complimentary tickets to the Awards Ceremony.
✨ Nominations close 9pm Sunday1st March 2026.

This is your chance to champion the organisations that go above and beyond every day. Who will you put forward?

Name of Nominee (Person, Team or Organisation)

Email Name them

Category you are nominating them for

Nominee's Email (If known)

Nominee's Phone no. (If known)

Nominee's Website (If known)

Achievements

(Tell us about any Achievements for this Person, Team or Organisation, we want to hear as much about the amazing things they have done)

Impact

(Tell us about their Impact. How they’ve made a difference, who they’ve helped, and the impact they’ve had.)

Evidence

Please provide specific evidence to support this nomination. The Awards panel will not research this information themselves. Nominations with strong supporting evidence have a significantly better chance of success.

Please send links to images, videos or share a website that supports your nomination to help us shout about this Person, Team or Organisation

Your Name

First

Last

Your Email

Your Phone number (optional)

Consent

I agree

I confirm that the information provided is true to the best of my knowledge.

I agree to be contacted if the judging panel requires further information about this nomination.

I understand that some information in this nomination may be used in promotional materials (e.g., ceremony programme, social media) if the nominee is shortlisted.

📩 Submit your nomination by 9pm Sunday 1st March 2026.

Questions? Email us at awards@heysmilefoundation.org

Thursday

21st May 2026

MKM Stadium

More details to follow

The Categories

Award Categories

Environmental Award

Judges will look for:

Digital Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Leader of The Year

Judges will look for:

Impact of The Year

Judges will look for:

Team of The Year

Judges will look for:

Funder of The Year

Judges will look for:

Arts & Culture Award

Judges will look for:
|

Children & Youth Award

Judges will look for:

Education & Training Award

Judges will look for:

Partnership of The Year

Judges will look for:

Sports & Active Award

Judges will look for:

Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Health & Wellbeing

Judges will look for:

Newcomer Award

Judges will look for:

Special Recognition

Judges will look for:

Submit a Nomination

Thursday

HEY Smile Foundation, a company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales.

Charity Number: 1125856.

Company Number: 06455490

HEY Smile Foundation, The Loft, Gosschalks, Dock Street, Hull, HU1 3AE.

The Categories

Award Categories

Environmental Award

Judges will look for:

Digital Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Leader of The Year

Judges will look for:

Impact of The Year

Judges will look for:

Team of The Year

Judges will look for:

Funder of The Year

Judges will look for:

Arts & Culture Award

Judges will look for:|

Children & Youth Award

Judges will look for:

Education & Training Award

Judges will look for:

Partnership of The Year

Judges will look for:

Sports & Active Award

Judges will look for:

Inclusion Award

Judges will look for:

Health & Wellbeing

Judges will look for:

Newcomer Award

Judges will look for:

Special Recognition

Judges will look for:

Submit a Nomination

Thursday

HEY Smile Foundation, a company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales.

Charity Number: 1125856.

Company Number: 06455490

HEY Smile Foundation, The Loft, Gosschalks, Dock Street, Hull, HU1 3AE.

Judges will look for:
|