Inspire Future Generations Awards 2026
Recognising ways children and young people contribute to shaping the built environment.
(2026 Entries Opening Soon)
#ifgawards2026
Across the UK and beyond, design and development are involving children and young people in shaping places.
If you shape places and involve young people in decisions — these awards are for you.
Projects where children and young people contribute to shaping places — from early engagement through to involvement in live decisions.
Start your entry→ Choose a category
→ Takes 10–15 minutes
Not sure where your project fits? → Use our quick guide
What we recognise
We recognise projects where children and young people contribute to shaping the built environment.
This includes work at different stages — from early engagement to direct involvement in live decisions.
What matters is what changes as a result.
We are particularly interested in:
how young people contribute to decisions
what difference that involvement makes
how this shapes design, use or long-term outcomes
This might include:
shaping design ideas or proposals
identifying priorities that shape a project
contributing to how a space is used or experienced
informing how work is carried out over time
Emerging practice
Not all impactful work results in immediate change. We also recognise emerging practice where there is:
a strong and thoughtful approach
clear intent and direction
credible potential to shape future decisions
Who can apply
Submissions are welcome from those shaping the built environment, including:
architects, engineers, planners, developers and local authorities
education organisations and not-for-profits
clients, commissioners and multidisciplinary teams
Projects may vary in scale, context and stage — from early exploration to established practice.
Award categories
Find the category that best reflects what your project shaped.
Projects may span more than one area — if relevant, you can submit to multiple categories as separate entries.
Not sure which category? → Use our quick guide
Climate Change
Culture
Community
Healthy Spaces
Heritage
Safety & Inclusiveness
Regeneration
Strategic Vision
Material resources and research
Skills & Capacity Development
→ Environmental change or awareness through place.
→ Creative or cultural expression shaping place
→ Shaping local places and communities
→ Health and wellbeing outcomes.
→ How the past is interpreted and carried into the.
→ Making places safer, more inclusive or accessible.
→ Development, housing or large-scale change.
→ Long-term ideas, frameworks or direction.
→ Tools, resources or evidence shaping practice.
→ People gaining skills to influence place.
In addition to category awards, we recognise outstanding work through our “Best of…” awards.ST OF SECTION
BEST OF……
Recognising impact across different sectors in enabling children and young people to shape and influence place.
Built Practice
Local Authority / Government Agency
Development Company
Built Environment Schools
Not for Profit Organisation
Young Talent of the Year
Individual of the Year
TET Award (the best of the best of anything in !
Recognising practice that embeds children and young people in shaping design and decision-making
Awarded to a practice where children and young people meaningfully influence how places are designed, developed or delivered.
Awarded to a local authority/government agency that has enabled children and young people to shape and influence decisions about place through policy, planning or delivery.
Awarded to a developer that has enabled children and young people to shape and influence decisions within development projects.
Awarded to an organisation that has enabled children and young people to shape and influence decisions about place through its work.
Awarded to an organisation that has enabled children and young people to shape and influence decisions about place through its work.
Recognising an individual at an early stage in their career who shows strong potential in enabling children and young people to shape and influence place.
Recognising an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to enabling children and young people to shape and influence decisions about place.
Recognising work that demonstrates exceptional impact and lasting change. or awarded to work that has influenced ongoing practice and created lasting change beyond a single project.