BOA Wins National Recognition at Inspirational Youth Awards
BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy has been named Youth Project of the Year at the Inspirational Youth Awards 2026, in recognition of its outstanding #WeWill Youth Social Action Project, delivered in partnership with Ormiston Trust.
The awards, held on Saturday 25th April 2026, marked their fourth year and an exciting national expansion, celebrating exceptional young people and projects from across the UK. BOA’s success highlights the continued impact of its student-led creative outreach work within local communities.
Celebrating youth-led social action
The award recognises BOA’s commitment to empowering students as creative leaders and active citizens through the #WeWill Youth Social Action Project. The initiative enables students to develop leadership, communication and creative facilitation skills by designing and delivering arts-based workshops for primary school pupils across Birmingham and the wider region.
At the heart of the programme is the BOA Super Saturday School, an intensive eight-week initiative that runs alongside the academy’s wider workshop provision. The programme extends access to high-quality arts education while giving BOA students meaningful opportunities to lead, mentor and inspire others.
The award was accepted on behalf of BOA by Mr Higgins, who works closely with programme lead Mary Savva to deliver the Super Saturday School and ensure the continued success of the project.
Making a measurable impact
To date, the initiative has established partnerships with 25 local primary schools, engaging 6,591 children over the past five years. Through free workshops, performance opportunities and sustained creative engagement, the project has helped to widen access to the arts for young people who may not otherwise have had the opportunity.
The programme continues to demonstrate the power of youth-led action, showing how creativity can be used to drive positive change and strengthen community connections.
A commitment to accessible arts education
This national recognition reflects BOA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all young people have access to high-quality arts education, regardless of background or circumstance.
A spokesperson for BOA said the award is a testament to the dedication of students, staff and partners who continue to champion creativity, collaboration and opportunity across the region.
BOA extends its thanks to all those involved in supporting the project and helping to ensure its continued success, keeping the flag flying high for accessible arts education for all.
