The Diana Award
Certificate of Recognition
Nomination-based global honour for young people aged 16 to 24 leading sustained social action or humanitarian work.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Annual cycle running about 13 months from nominations opening to the award ceremony
Eligibility
Open to young people aged 16 to 24 at the time of nomination, who may be 25 when the award is received. Nominees must have carried out social action or humanitarian work for at least 12 months, aligned to Quality Education, Good Health and Wellbeing, Reduced Inequality or Climate Action. Nominations are accepted from any country, including India. Self-nomination is not permitted, and groups or teams cannot be nominated.
- Age range
- 16 to 24 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- At least 12 months of sustained social action work
- Project aligned to one of four Sustainable Development Goals
- Nominated by an unrelated adult who knows them professionally
- Two supporter statements and three pieces of evidence
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
Certificate of Recognition
Recipients receive a Certificate of Recognition and a place on the Roll of Honour, which is published when the award ceremony takes place.
Recognition
International recognition
Key dates
- Registration opened
- 1 Oct 2025
- Registration closed
- 31 Oct 2025
- Competition
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results
- 4 Nov 2026
Online · Diana Award Nomination Centre online form
How to apply
- 1An adult over 18 who knows the young person professionally and is not related to them starts a nomination
- 2Nominator completes the online form covering nominee details, project information and four criterion responses
- 3Two supporters submit statements using the official template
- 4Nominator uploads three pieces of additional evidence of impact
- 5Charity team checks eligibility, then an external judging panel assesses the nomination
Rules and guidelines
- Self-nominations are not accepted
- Nominators must not be related to the nominee
- Groups and teams cannot be nominated
- All entries and supporting evidence must be in English
- Only one nomination per young person is reviewed
- Judging panel decisions are final
Technology requirements
- Internet access to complete the online nomination form
- Ability to upload evidence files and supporter statements
About this opportunity
The Diana Award is a global honour for young people aged 16 to 24 who have led sustained social action or humanitarian work. It is given by nomination only, and a young person cannot nominate themselves.
A nomination must come from an adult over 18 who knows the young person in a professional capacity, such as a teacher, youth worker, university tutor or community leader, and who is not related to them. The nominee must have been carrying out their social action work for a minimum of 12 months, and that work must align with at least one of four Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education, Good Health and Wellbeing, Reduced Inequality, or Climate Action.
Nominations are submitted through the online nomination centre and must include statements from two supporters plus three pieces of additional evidence. All submissions must be in English. Nominations are first checked against the eligibility criteria by the charity team, then assessed by an external judging panel of volunteer experts drawn from around the world.
Recipients receive a certificate of recognition, a place on the Roll of Honour, participation in a global virtual ceremony, access to a network of young leaders, and invitations to the peer-led Conversations for Change series. Groups and teams cannot be nominated, so each individual must be nominated separately.
Rounds and format
Nominations pass through three stages. The Diana Award team first carries out initial assessments to confirm eligibility and to run risk and safeguarding checks. An external judging panel then reviews eligible nominations against the four published criteria. Successful nominations are finally vetted for safeguarding before recipients are confirmed, after which nominators and successful nominees are notified by email.
How entries are judged
Nominations are assessed against four published criteria, each answered in 150 to 300 words: Leadership, Tangible Impact, Peer Empowerment, and Resilience and Integrity. The charity states that scale of impact does not matter and that significance of impact does, so judges look for clear outcomes and evidence such as people reached, behaviours changed or policies influenced.
Selection process
Eligible nominations are reviewed by the external judging panel against the four criteria, with only one nomination per young person considered. Up to 200 young people receive the award each year. Successful nominations then pass additional safeguarding, risk and media checks before recipients are confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How competitive is the Diana Award assessment?
Up to 200 young people are recognised worldwide each year, drawn from nominations across more than 80 countries. Every eligible nomination is reviewed against the same four criteria by an external judging panel.
Does the scale of a nominee's project affect the outcome?
No. The charity states that scale does not matter and that significance of impact does. Judges look for measurable change and evidence such as people reached, behaviours changed or policies influenced.
What happens if a nomination is unsuccessful?
The nominator is notified by email. Because of the volume of nominations no detailed feedback is given and the decision is final. The charity encourages nominators to re-nominate when nominations reopen.
Can a young person based outside the United Kingdom be nominated?
Yes. The award is a global honour and recipients have come from over 80 countries across six continents since 2020, including India. Nominations are assessed by judges grouped across five world regions.
How should nominators evidence a nominee's impact?
Three pieces of evidence are required, such as press coverage, impact reports carrying metrics like beneficiaries reached, or testimonials from people who benefited. All materials must be submitted in English.
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