About the Ester Gluck Awards

The Separated Child Foundation was set up in memory of Ester Gluck. Compassionate and creative, Ester was deeply committed to working for the benefit of refugees and people seeking asylum, particularly children and young people.

In recognition of Ester’s legacy and to honour the inspiring impact young people can have on positively changing the world around them we have launched an annual award to celebrate separated young people up to the age of 21, who have been changemakers. Young people up to the age of 21 can be nominated by a known adult such as a teacher, support worker, foster carer or personal advisor. The young person must be or have been a separated child. The individual being nominated may have led a group project, in which case it is only the young person themselves who should be nominated. There are no restrictions on how long they have been in the UK or on their asylum status.

The winner of the Ester Gluck Award will receive a prize which rewards their social action and offers them an opportunity to choose a fun, inspiring or adventurous outing or activity to attend or participate in. Embracing the idea of young people as individuals with their own interests, aspirations and dreams, the prize includes a voucher worth £150 and the opportunity to choose an all-expenses-paid day out or activity to enjoy with a friend or carer*. This might include a trip to a local theme park, a cultural day out to a museum or theatre show, or an outdoor activity such as kayaking or rock climbing.

* Award winners under the age of 16 should be accompanied on the day trip by a responsible adult aged 18 or over.

You can download a nomination form here: The Ester Gluck Awards – nomination form 2025

Who can be nominated?

Young people up to the age of 21 can be nominated by a known adult such as a teacher, support worker, foster carer or personal advisor. The young person must be or have been a separated child. The individual being nominated may have led a group project, in which case it is only the young person themselves who should be nominated. There are no restrictions on how long they have been in the UK or on their asylum status.

The project

The aim of our award is to recognise and reward young changemakers who are creating positive change, no matter how large or small, in their community or the wider world. Projects should have:

• Addressed a problematic issue or challenged the status quo
• Aimed to make society better, more tolerant, happier or more inclusive
• Involved other people, either in the planning and delivery of the project, or in terms of the people who have benefitted as a result of the project
• Been innovative
• Been delivered anywhere in the UK

Exclusions:

• We will not consider projects that promote violence, intolerance and/or discrimination
• Whilst we welcome projects that aimed to change society, we will not be able to consider projects that promoted a political party
• Whilst we welcome projects that aimed to tackle intolerance on the basis of religion, we will not be able to consider projects that promoted any religion

Examples of projects:

The project might be in the form of a film, a fundraiser, a social media campaign, a school assembly, a poem that the young person shared, a blog, a piece of art, a piece of writing, an event, etc. We are open-minded as to what it looks like! It can be a project that the young person has already completed, or one that is ongoing.

Timeline and nomination form

You can download a nomination form here: The Ester Gluck Awards – nomination form 2025