HY5! shortlisted for national Excellence in Co‑Production award

A pioneering Wolverhampton youth voice group has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award recognising outstanding co‑production with children, young people and families.

HY5!, a group for young people aged 11-25 with additional needs and disabilities, has been named a finalist for the Excellence in Co‑Production Award at the SEND Awards 2026, organised by the Council for Disabled Children.

Meeting every fortnight at the Cherry Street SEND & Sensory Hub, HY5! champions meaningful and inclusive youth voice. Members use a range of accessible tools such as drawings, voice notes, photo prompts, and feelings cards to ensure every young person can contribute in a way that feels right for them.

HY5! has worked closely with Wolverhampton’s SEND & Inclusion Partnership Board, helping to embed the voices of young people in the city’s SEND & Inclusion Strategy. By sharing lived experiences and holding leaders accountable, the group has influenced decision‑making at the highest level.

The award nomination says that HY5! has had a significant impact on local services over the last 12 months, shaping improvements to the Local Offer, informing the city’s approach to Early Help, influencing post‑16 pathways, and helping create new resources for families. The group has also delivered its Inspiring Change training to more than 60 professionals across education, health and social care.

The group continues to drive wider youth voice participation across schools, regional forums and national initiatives – including co‑producing the national Youth Voice Manifesto and contributing to Government consultations.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are absolutely delighted that HY5! has been shortlisted for this national award.

"Their passion, honesty and creativity are transforming the way services listen to and work with young people, and this national recognition is a testament to their leadership, their commitment and the impact they are having across Wolverhampton."

The awards ceremony will take place on 23 April at the University of Birmingham.

HY5! have been recognised previously, winning the NHS England Special Recognition Award for Children and Young Person Voice for Change, while four members have been Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year Award finalists in recent years.

To find out more about HY5! and how young people and families can get involved, please visit www.localofferwolves.co.uk/feedback/get-involved.