Awards Categories
At the Elysian Awards, we celebrate individuals, teams, and organisations transforming lives through therapeutic learning, creative practice, health, and social care.
Our categories reflect the compassion, innovation, and collaboration that drive this powerful work.
Brilliant Team Award
Due to an outstanding number of nominations and the exceptional calibre of individuals and groups this year, we are introducing an additional category, The Brilliant Team Award.
This special recognition will be chosen by our judges, celebrating a team whose collective impact and collaboration truly stand out.
The winner will be announced live on the night.
Outstanding Contribution in Education
This award recognises an individual, team or organisation delivering creative, person-centred learning experiences that go beyond traditional teaching. It celebrates educators who have created or led innovative projects or approaches that have significantly impacted learners’ lives. This could include therapeutic, outdoor, vocational or alternative education, across any age group.
We particularly encourage nominations from schools, SEN provisions, colleges and adult education providers who have done something extraordinary, outside the box, or truly learner-focused.
Making a Difference with Animals
This award honours individuals or teams who have worked alongside animals in original, powerful and transformative ways to support others. It might be a school that introduced animals into the classroom, a mental health team that brought a therapy dog into clinical settings, or someone who set up a therapy farm or a charity from scratch.
Nominees will have utilised the benefits of connecting with animals in creative and meaningful ways, improving outcomes for children, young people or adults in education, care, health or community contexts.
Transformational Leadership
This award celebrates someone whose leadership has created real and lasting change. Whether managing a team, running a service, or influencing policy and practice, they lead with heart, clarity and courage. Their work uplifts others, inspires progress and challenges the status quo when needed.
Nominees may be found in education, health, social care, charities or other community-based roles, and will be recognised for their integrity, innovation and impact.
Inspiring Change Through Creative Practice Award
This award recognises individuals who use creative practice to bring about change, growth and connection. Through the arts, storytelling, music, design, movement or play, they create spaces for healing, belonging and transformation.
Nominees may have designed or led imaginative, therapeutic or community-building projects that improve lives through out-of-the-box approaches and hands-on creativity.
Breaking the Mould Award
This award is for someone who has challenged norms and disrupted unhelpful systems in order to improve the lives of others. Whether they developed a bold new model, spoke up when others stayed quiet, or carved a new path entirely, their work has led to improved outcomes and real change.
Nominees may come from any sector and will have shown determination, purpose and innovation, often against the odds.
No One Left Behind Award
This award celebrates individuals or organisations who ensure that inclusion is not just a value but an everyday reality. It recognises those who go the extra mile to make sure people are seen, heard and valued.
Whether through direct support, inclusive practice, accessibility work or systemic change, their work ensures that no one is excluded and every person has the opportunity to thrive.
Making a Difference Together
This award honours the power of collaboration. It is for teams, partnerships or networks who have worked together across settings, sectors or disciplines to make a positive and lasting impact.
Nominees will have demonstrated shared vision, commitment and teamwork in creating solutions, improving services, or reaching communities more effectively than working alone.
Incredible Volunteer Contribution Award
This award recognises a volunteer who has gone above and beyond to make a difference. Their contribution may be consistent and quiet, or bold and visible, but is always driven by care, generosity and compassion.
Whether supporting individuals, animals or wider communities, they have made a real and lasting impact through their time, energy and presence.
Partnership That Makes a Difference
This award celebrates a partnership that has delivered meaningful outcomes through mutual trust, shared purpose and effective collaboration.
Whether between organisations, sectors or individuals, the partnership will have addressed challenges, unlocked opportunities and created change. This is for those who prove that powerful things happen when we work together with intention.
Lifetime Achievement
This award recognises an individual who has dedicated their life’s work to advancing the field of therapy, wellbeing, or inclusive support. With a legacy built on years of compassion, vision, and service, they have influenced countless lives and shaped the way we work today.
This honour is reserved for someone whose lifelong contribution stands as an enduring example of excellence, care, and unwavering commitment to others.
This honour is reserved for someone whose lifelong contribution stands as an enduring example of excellence, care, and unwavering commitment to others.
Rising Star Award (Aged 18–30)
This award recognises an exceptional individual under 30 who is making a meaningful difference in the therapeutic world. Whether through innovation, compassion, or leadership, they are already having a lasting impact early in their career.
We’re looking for changemakers who are breaking new ground, bringing fresh perspectives, or going above and beyond to support others through therapeutic or wellbeing-focused work.
We’re looking for changemakers who are breaking new ground, bringing fresh perspectives, or going above and beyond to support others through therapeutic or wellbeing-focused work.
Woman Making a Difference Award
This award celebrates an inspiring woman whose contribution to therapeutic, wellbeing or support-focused work has made a remarkable difference. Whether through frontline delivery, leadership, advocacy, or creative practice, this individual uplifts others and champions positive change.
We welcome nominations that reflect courage, innovation, mentorship, and a deep commitment to improving lives.
We welcome nominations that reflect courage, innovation, mentorship, and a deep commitment to improving lives.
Each category highlights a different way people are creating meaningful change through care, creativity, and connection.
Whether in learning, wellbeing, or community work, these awards celebrate those making a real difference.
You can nominate yourself or someone else. Take a look through the categories and submit your nomination today.
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