How the High Sheriff Youth Awards work
The High Sheriff Youth Awards celebrate young people and the groups supporting them in County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, and Stockton.
In partnership with the High Sheriff of County Durham, these awards provide direct funding to help those groups continue and grow their work.
When you donate to the High Sheriff Youth Awards Fund, your contribution is awarded as grants to local organisations working with young people. The grants are announced at our celebratory event each spring.
In February 2026, £35,000 was distributed to twelve groups, with grants ranging from £1,500 to £5,000. That funding helped projects stay open, expand their reach and support more young people.
Behind each award is a simple, structured process designed to make sure funding goes where it’s needed most.
Find out more about the difference the High Sheriff Youth Awards make in County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, and Stockton.
How groups are selected
1. Groups put themselves forward
Youth groups nominate themselves through a short application form.
They tell us:
-
how they support young people
-
what they would do with funding
-
why their work matters, often sharing real stories from the young people they support
This gives us a clear picture of their work and ensures they are ready to receive funding.
2. Review and shortlisting
Point North reviews every application carefully.
We look at how the group is run, the impact they are having, and how funding would be used. From this, we create a shortlist of groups to go forward to the judging panel.
3. Independent judging
The final decisions are made by a judging panel, which includes the High Sheriff of County Durham and supporters of the awards.
They review the shortlisted groups and select the award recipients.
4. Awards and funding
The awards are presented at a youth-focused celebration event.
Groups receive a certificate from the High Sheriff and are told how much funding they have been awarded. We keep the event simple so that as much funding as possible goes directly to the groups themselves.
What the funding supports
Funding supports a wide range of youth-led and youth-focused activity.
This can include creating safe spaces for young people, running mentoring or support programmes, delivering creative or skills-based projects, or expanding existing services to reach more people.
The aim is simple: to give groups the flexibility to respond to what young people in their community actually need.
Why this matters
Many youth groups are working with limited resources, often relying on small grants and volunteer time to keep going.
A grant of £1,500 to £5,000 can make an immediate practical difference, whether that’s covering core costs, funding new activities, or allowing a group to reach young people they otherwise couldn’t support.
By combining an open nomination process, careful review and independent judging, the awards ensure funding is directed to groups with clear purpose and proven local impact.
Funding is what enables youth groups to stay open, respond to challenges, and create opportunities for young people who need them most.
When you give, you’re helping make that possible.
Support young people
Now you’ve seen how it works, you can be part of it. Donate to the High Sheriff Youth Awards Fund and help turn recognition into real support for young people in County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, and Stockton.
