Celebrating the successes of children and young people in care
We joined young people in care to celebrate their outstanding successes at the Achieve Awards 2025.
Young people were honoured for their accomplishments across a range of categories, including personal achievement, academic success, contribution to the community, and going above and beyond.
This year’s event was hosted by a local care leaver – someone who has been in council care and is now moving towards a more independent life – and they brought a special atmosphere to the evening.
The awards highlight the importance of supporting those in care, recognising their achievements and helping them to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Special guests included Cllr Viv Kendrick, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, and Cllr Munir Ahmed, the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, who jointly presented the awards.
Cllr Kendrick said:
“It was an absolute pleasure to attend this year’s event and ensure our young people know how much they are valued. Being in care can bring its challenges, so we want to remove any barriers to success and give them the very best life chances.
“The council does excellent work in this area, providing opportunities which boost confidence and open up new horizons. We’re proud of our children and young people, and preparing our care leavers for independence remains a high priority.”
One award winner – a passionate advocate for improving outcomes for others – had visited Parliament and spoken to a group of MPs about encouraging large organisations to employ care leavers. Their story was a powerful example of what can be achieved.
Another young adult was celebrated for her outstanding talent in ice-skating, while a previous care leaver had a stall at the event showing off her creative talents in designing handmade jewellery. What started as a hobby has developed into a successful small enterprise, demonstrating how imagination and hard work can lead to independence and success.
The evening also included an inspirational speech from a care leaver, who shared personal reflections on their journey and gave an insight into the challenges faced when transitioning from care into adulthood.
In addition, members of the Kirklees Care Leavers football team took to the stage and shared what the team had accomplished over the previous year.
The Achieve Awards form part of National Care Leavers Month 2025, during which Kirklees joins councils and organisations across the UK in recognising the potential of care-experienced young people. The month also promotes ongoing access to key support such as education, training, housing and wellbeing services.
The Achieve Awards are funded through a charitable trust, which remains open to donations so that young people in care across Kirklees can continue to be celebrated. Donations can be made at the Huddersfield Town Foundation website.
The evening was made possible thanks to contributions from local businesses and organisations, including West Yorkshire 360 Photo Booth, Chyv’s Kitchen, David Bignall Caricaturist and Angela Allen who supported with photography. Also in attendance were national organisation Rees Foundation, who spoke about support they provide to care leavers.