Help celebrate the achievements of young people across the city and county by nominating an inspiring young person for the Lord-Lieutenant's 2018 awards

People in Leicester and Leicestershire are being urged to nominate inspiring young people for this year's Lord-Lieutenant's Award. Each year, the Lord-Lieutenant celebrates the achievements of young people across the city and county.

The award scheme is open to all 13 to 19 year olds living in Leicester and Leicestershire. Individuals can be nominated by other young people, their school, parent or carer, as well as any other agency or individual.

You can nominate for Young Braveheart, Young Volunteer, Young Sportsperson and Young Artist. For 2018, a special category will commemorate the centenary of the First World War. This award will be given to someone who investigates and presents a piece of creative research using any method including video, podcast, blog, or report. The project must be inspired by the contribution of the Commonwealth countries either on the front line or in a supporting role behind the lines.

This year's categories celebrate the very best examples of effort and achievement.

Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, said: "I am delighted to open the nominations for the 2018 awards. Having led the awards for over a decade, I look forward each year to hearing about the remarkable efforts of our amazing young people and their outstanding endeavours.

"As ever, the award categories highlight bravery, creativity, strength of spirit and selflessness – which can inspire us all in Leicester and Leicestershire.

"I am particularly keen to see the creative projects which young people are being invited to undertake. I hope the challenge of revisiting our war time heritage and re-discovering the contribution made by so many Commonwealth countries during the First World War will capture the imaginations of our young investigators."

The finalists and their parents will be invited to a special 'red carpet' awards evening and dinner held in April next year and hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant.

Ciera Taylor, was Young Braveheart last year and was named Young Person of the Year: "The other people who were nominated in my category so deserved to win as well and then to choose me, I was so happy and honoured, and to win overall as well – I still can't quite believe it."

Young Artist of the Year - The Joe Humphries Memorial Award

This year's Leicestershire Lord Lieutenant's Awards for young people once again includes the Young Artist of the Year ( The Joe Humphries Memorial Awardcategory to be given to a young person who has demonstrated real skill, innovation, and expression in:

• visual arts
• expressive arts
• literature, or music

This particular award provides a fantastic showcase to raise the profile and celebrate the artistic talents of young people from both the city and county who are fittingly recognised by Lord Lieutenant of Leicester and Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton.

The closing date for this year's nominations for braveheart, volunteer, sportsperson and artist is 31 January 2018. Entries for the special category Young Investigator of the Year are welcome until 9 February 2018.

To find out more about the awards or to nominate a young person go online at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/llawards or email mailto: lieutenancyoffice@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6053.