Young people recognised at the King’s Trust awards in Liverpool
Seven finalists from England have been celebrated for their achievements
The King’s Trust Awards has today recognised young people from across England for their achievements at a ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre.
Seven young individuals and a group project from across England picked up commendations for their remarkable personal transformations in the face of significant challenges.
The awards spotlight young winners who have overcome the odds to improve their lives and positively impact their communities. All English finalists now have a chance to be crowned as National King’s Trust winners during a special event at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2026.
The Winners
Delta Air Lines Breakthrough: Sahara (Bristol)
NatWest Enterprise: Alan (Derby)
L’Oreal Paris Rising Star: Harriet (Bristol)
Homesense Young Achiever: Brandon (Chorley)
Watches of Switzerland Young Change Maker: Shauna (Leeds)
Tesco Education: Reece (Doncaster)
JD Foundation Community Impact: Students from City of Bristol College
Highlights from the winners
England Young Achiever 2026, Brandon Tatterstall from Chorley, Lancashire, transformed his life after facing struggles with confidence, mental health, and unemployment. He completed The King’s Trust's Get into Business Administration programme and secured a role as a Junior Data Analyst at BAE Systems.
Brandon said: “Winning the award gives me another reason alongside the many others to feel validated and reassured that I made the correct choice in taking part in the programme. It also makes me feel motivated to progress and develop so I can go even further in life.”
Rising Star 2026, Harriet Thompson from Bristol, overcame challenges including a difficult childhood, health issues, and housing insecurity. With support from The Trust, she completed multiple programmes and now works as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher with South Western Ambulance Service.
Harriet noted: “I have been recognised for work I once doubted anyone would notice. To anyone who thinks it's too late, a difficult start doesn’t stop a bright future.”
Tesco Education 2026 winner Reece Harrison, aged 19 from Doncaster, improved his confidence and skills despite struggling with Autism and a speech impediment. Supported by The King’s Trust Achieve programme, he gained a range of qualifications and has been invited to the Houses of Parliament due to his contributions to local initiatives.
“It’s a powerful reminder that hard work pays off,” Reece said.
Delta Air Lines Breakthrough 2026 winner Sahara Pring from Bristol overcame a challenging home life and mental health struggles to pursue her ambition to work in security. Completing the Get Into Security programme, Sahara is now a fully licensed SIA Door Supervisor eager to inspire others.
Sahara commented: “Thank you for giving your time and patience to create a grounded space where we are seen, heard, and valued. Your compassion and commitment truly change lives.”
Shauna Tiffany, England Young Changemaker 2026 from Leeds, turned her experiences in the care system into inspiration for her business, Lighthouse Therapy Hub. With The King’s Trust’s support, Shauna built a venture delivering play therapy and holistic mental health services, impacting over 370 people to date.
Shauna stated: “Winning the award is like knocking on a door that opens for your community, showing the significance of mental health therapies. Reach out to The King’s Trust for support; you can borrow my belief in you until you find yours.”
JD Foundation Community Impact winners, Team 290 from City of Bristol College — Ibrahim, Meadow, Tom and Anesu — were recognised for their project restoring a telephone box into a medical unit with a bleed kit and defibrillator.
Anesu, a member of the team, said: “The three months I spent on the course were some of the best of my life in the UK. I gained important skills for my future career and met incredible people who I still see as great friends today.”
National spotlight in May
The King’s Trust’s English finalists will join winners from other UK regions this May at the Royal Albert Hall. This event will celebrate courage, creativity, and achievements through awards, live music, comedy performances, and more.
Youth charity The King’s Trust helps young people gain confidence and skills to build brighter futures. The organisation say three in four young people supported in the last five years have moved into work, education, or training, with the ultimate aim to tackle youth unemployment.