Create and John Lyon’s Charity shortlisted for Charity Times Award
We are delighted that Create and John Lyon’s Charity have been shortlisted for the 2026 Charity Times “Charity Collaboration of the Year” Award. This recognises a 13 year partnership bringing the life-enhancing power of the creative arts to children and young people in London.
Since 2013, Create and John Lyon’s Charity have worked together to expand access to high-quality creative arts opportunities for children and young people who might otherwise face barriers to taking part. Over the years, the partnership has grown in both scale and impact, supporting thousands of young people to build confidence, develop new skills and improve their wellbeing through professional artist-led creative projects.
During 2025/26 alone, the partnership reached 364 children and young people across the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham and Harrow through three flagship programmes: changing:minds, community:matters and inspired:arts.
Together, these programmes supported children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children in care, young carers, disabled young people, and migrant and refugee children and young people, through a wide range of creative artforms, including animation, ceramics, dance, drama, filmmaking, jewellery, music, photography, sculpture, textiles and visual art.
Creativity changing lives
Across all three programmes, the impact of the partnership has been remarkable.
Participants consistently report improvements in their wellbeing, confidence, creativity, communication and teamwork, while partner organisations highlight the lasting value the projects bring to their own services.
Across the programmes:
- 96% of participants said their wellbeing improved.
- 96% felt more connected to others.
- Partner organisations consistently reported that the projects strengthened and enriched their existing provision.
One young carer reflected:
“[The project] allowed me to speak out more.”
Another shared:
“I’ve made new friends and had new experiences.”
For many participants, these projects provided much more than an opportunity to be creative. They offered a space for young people to express themselves, connect with others and discover confidence in a supportive environment.
Strengthening communities
The partnership has also created lasting benefits for the organisations supporting these young people.
As part of community:matters in Brent Create delivered creative training for staff from the three partners organisations, equipping them with new creative skills and techniques to use with the young people they support, long after our project finished.
Meanwhile, the partnership enabled Create to establish inspired:arts in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, addressing a significant gap in provision by introducing dedicated creative arts opportunities for young carers in the borough for the first time.
Showcase events throughout the year brought together participants, families, carers and community partners to celebrate the young people’s impressive achievements, highlighting the confidence, creativity and skills developed.
Celebrating collaboration
The Charity Times Awards celebrate excellence across the charity sector, recognising organisations and partnerships making a meaningful difference to people’s lives.
Being shortlisted for “Charity Collaboration of the Year” is wonderful recognition of what can be achieved when organisations combine their expertise, shared values and commitment to creating opportunities for those who need them most.
We are incredibly grateful for our continued partnership with John Lyon’s Charity and our shared belief in the importance of ensuring every child and young person has access to the creative arts.
We look forward to celebrating alongside the other finalists at the Charity Times Awards on 23 September.
