Bishop Auckland Town Hall was filled with pride, inspiration and celebration on Monday 22 June 2026 as the community came together for the Bishop Auckland Town Youth Awards, recognising the remarkable achievements of young people from across the town.
The prestigious event welcomed 150 guests, including nominees, families, friends, and category sponsors, who all gathered to celebrate the dedication, talent and positive contributions of the towns young people. The awards ceremony recognised achievements across 16 individual award and four group award categories, highlighting a diverse range of accomplishments including volunteering, leadership, community spirit, sporting excellence, creativity, resilience and personal achievement.
Deputy Mayor of Bishop Auckland Town Council Mike Harker said:
“The Town Youth Awards are one of the highlights of our annual calendar. The standard of nominations this year was exceptional and demonstrated the incredible talent, compassion and determination of young people across our community. It was fantastic to welcome 150 people to the Town Hall to celebrate these achievements. Every nominee should be immensely proud of their contribution, and the award winners are truly deserving of this recognition.”
The guests were met on the red carpet by Deputy Mayor Mike Harker and Town Clerk Sarah Harris. The Town Council invited local singer and songwriter Channy Thompson, to join them again as compare for the evening. The evening ended on a high with Channy singing and the whole room were up dancing.
The awards were originally created by the first Mayor of Bishop Auckland Barbara Laurie, and whilst the format has changed over the years and is now a red carpet event the ethos remains the same, to shine a spotlight on the exceptional young people who make a difference every day, often without seeking recognition. Throughout the evening, guests heard inspiring stories of young people who have overcome challenges, supported others and made meaningful contributions to their schools, clubs and communities.
Councillor Lesley Zair, Chair of the Community Committee said:
“It has been wonderful to hear the stories and achievements of our young people, it is always an emotional and humbling night. The Town Council were thrilled to add the Barbara Laurie Award to the portfolio this year, in recognition of outstanding achievement, which we awarded to Ben Hunt and James Holliday from Bishop Auckland Rugby Club for their sporting achievements and recent selection for the England North. Stories such as theirs demonstrate that, with dedication and perseverance, our young people can achieve remarkable things. They are excellent role models and a credit to our community, and we are immensely proud of all those who were nominated and recognised this evening.”
The event showcased not only individual successes but also the strength of youth groups and organisations working together to make a positive impact within Bishop Auckland.
Bishop Auckland Town Council would like to thank everyone involved in making the event such a success, including nominees, families, schools, youth organisations, sponsors, volunteers and all those who submitted nominations.
The Council remains committed to recognising and supporting young people, whose energy, creativity and dedication continue to make Bishop Auckland a stronger and more vibrant community.
