Nxt Gen 2026: Nottinghamshire’s young stars take centre stage at police awards ceremony

Inspirational young people from across Nottinghamshire took the spotlight at a glittering police awards ceremony celebrating courage, creativity and resilience.

Nottinghamshire Police’s Nxt Gen Awards returned in style, with a show-stopping evening featuring talented singers and carnival dance troupe performances.

Powerful videos brought each nominee’s story to life, showcasing remarkable achievements and personal journeys that moved the audience.

The red carpet was rolled out as guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment and hospitality, and could also enjoy circus-style acrobat, street dance, and graffiti wall activities.

In total, 13 winners and runners-up were recognised on the night, honouring young people who have shown exceptional resilience, selflessness and talent, or who have overcome adversity to inspire others.

First launched in 2021, the awards continue to shine a light on Nottinghamshire’s rising stars, and this year rebranded as the Nxt Gen Awards.

More than 120 young people were nominated this year. Winners and runners-up attended the ceremony at Nottinghamshire Police’s headquarters in Arnold on 8 May, where they were presented with trophies, certificates and prizes in recognition of their outstanding efforts.

The powerful stories behind our winners will be shared throughout this week in a series of press releases and videos, revealing the impact these young people are making in their communities.

Each year, the force honours a finalist with the Lyrico Steede Award, which is named in memory of a Nottingham teenager who tragically lost his life aged 17 after he was lured to a Bulwell park and murdered in 2018.

This year’s finalists are:

• Lyrico Steede Award – Awarded to a young person who may have been involved in gangs, knife crime or other criminality but has made significant progress and inspired others.
  
  Winner: Hieu Lai, aged 12
  
  

• Leadership Award – Recognises young people who lead projects, show initiative, and encourage others.
  
  Winner: Harrison Gent, aged 13
  Runner-up: Aimee Pattison, aged 13
  
  

• Inspiring Young Minds Award – Awarded to someone who has done something inspirational and shown incredible resilience or something selfless to help others.
  
  Winner: Two boys, aged 12 and 13, who cannot be identified due to an ongoing police investigation 
  Runner-up: Kalilou Koita, aged 15
  
  

• Youth Creative Excellence Award – Recognises young talents who have contributed to the arts and cultural enrichment of their community through business, art, singing, dancing, or acting.
  
  Winner: Joel Mbakop, aged 16
  Runner-up: Henry Armstrong, aged 12
  
  

• Rising Above Adversity Award – Awarded to a young person who, despite their background or upbringing, is an inspiration to others.
  
  Winner: Poppy Henson, aged 10
  Runner-up: William Swan-Dennis, aged 16
  
  

• Youth Impact Award – Awarded to a young person who is leading by example and is a role model to their peers through student, sport, or youth work.
  
  Winner: Jake Marshall, aged 15
  Runner-up: Ted Porter-Sutton, aged nine
  
  

• Schools Empowerment Award – Recognising the efforts of star pupils from across Nottinghamshire.
  
  Winner: Yutong Wang, aged 13
  Runner-up: Maja Daniszewska, aged 14

Tremayne Blair is Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach lead, whose engagement team help organise the awards each year.

He said: “Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up, your outstanding achievements are deserving of recognition.

“At Nottinghamshire Police, we champion the amazing work young people are doing across the county, and it is wonderful to hear their powerful stories.

“Each year we receive so many worthy nominations showcasing the incredible talent of Nottinghamshire’s youngsters, and it is no easy task to shortlist the winners and runners-up.

“The Nxt Gen Awards are just one way we are strengthening relationships with our communities and working with young people, schools, and colleges to give them a voice and a platform to celebrate their achievements.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to all of the event sponsors, without whose support this event simply would not have been possible.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden added: “The Nxt Gen Awards shine a light on something truly special: the achievements, resilience and potential of our young people across the county.

“These awards matter because too often we only hear negative stories in the media about young people. But events like this tell a different story.

“We are proud to celebrate young people who are stepping up rather than stepping back, making positive choices, contributing to their communities, and showing what is possible when talent is met with opportunity and support.”

This year's sponsors have helped provide activity passes, vouchers, and other prizes for all winners and runners-up.

They include: Metropolitan Thames Housing, Police and Crime Commissioner's Office, Nottingham City Transport, Violence Reduction Partnership, It's In Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Morrisons, Nottingham Forest Trust, Disco Bowl, Notts County Foundation, YMCA, Trent Bridge, Asda, and Tesco.