The Pride of Somerset Youth Awards

2026 winner Thomas Rew

Thomas is an outstanding young cricketer whose talent, leadership and determination have seen him rise rapidly through both county and international cricket.

Over the past year, Thomas has enjoyed remarkable success as captain of the England Under-19 team, helping lead his side all the way to the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final.

At just seventeen years old, he also earned selection for the full England Lions squad, whilst continuing to impress for Somerset County Cricket Club after signing his first professional contract. Thomas made his senior debut in the Vitality Blast and has already produced outstanding performances with both bat and gloves, including an unbeaten 103 against Zimbabwe for a County Select XI.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s most exciting young wicketkeeper-batsmren, Thomas is a fantastic sporting ambassador for Somerset and an exceptional role model for aspiring young athletes.

2026 Winner - Katie Bishop

Katie is a truly remarkable young person whose compassion and quiet strength shine through in everything she does. Despite facing her own challenges, she has never allowed them to define her. Instead, they have shaped her into someone deeply empathetic and selfless.

When her mother’s health deteriorated, Katie stepped into a caring role with maturity far beyond her years. She organises appointments, attends them for support, manages medication, and offers constant reassurance. In moments of crisis, Katie has remained calm and composed, calling ambulances when needed and staying by her mother’s side with incredible courage.

Katie also supports those around her, offering kindness and friendship to anyone in need. She truly embodies the spirit of this award.
 

2026 Winner - Theo Roberts

Theodore is an inspiring 10-year-old whose determination and community spirit make him a truly deserving nominee for this award. With a real passion for the environment, he set himself an extraordinary challenge, picking up litter in his local area for 100 consecutive days. Come rain or shine, Theo headed out with bags and gloves, showing real commitment to making a difference.

By the end of the challenge, he had collected an incredible 342 kilograms of litter, helping to create cleaner, safer spaces for both people and wildlife.

As if this wasn’t enough, Theo has also raised an outstanding £2,380 for Surfers Against Sewage, far exceeding his original target of £1,500 and supporting vital work to protect our oceans and environment.

2026 Winner - Robin Marchent

Robin is a remarkable young volunteer whose kindness and dedication to helping others have made a lasting impact across his community.

Robin has been volunteering since the age of six and has supported countless local projects and organisation. From helping the Christmas Sparkle project provide gifts for children in difficult circumstances, to supporting youth cafés, church holiday clubs, community events and local litter picks to name a few. Robin is always willing to give his time to others.

Alongside studying for a demanding T-Level in Early Years and Education, Robin also volunteers at a local café, supports community fundraising and even helps elderly residents in his village with gardening and jobs around the house.

2026 Winner - Polly Graham

Since birth, Polly has lived with several complex medical conditions and regularly travels across the country for specialist treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Despite frequent hospital admissions and the daily challenges of living with both an ileostomy stoma and feeding tube, Polly continues to face life with remarkable positivity and resilience.

Alongside managing her own health, Polly is passionate about helping others. She bravely shares her experiences to raise awareness and inspire other children facing similar challenges. Through her fundraising events including Polly’s Plod and the Toddlerthon, she has raised an incredible £2,620 for charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Spread a Smile, which provides emotional support and joy-filled personalised experiences for seriously ill children and young people.

2026 Winner - Samiha Bowen

Samiha is an extraordinary young woman. Despite experiencing significant challenges in her early life, including homelessness and overcoming selective mutism, Samiha has grown into a confident and compassionate leader who dedicates so much of her time to supporting others.

Samiha is the current District Cadet of the Year for St John Ambulance and serves as Lead Cadet and Cadet First Aider at the Ilton unit.

Alongside this, she is a Holocaust Ambassador, Mental Health Ambassador and Equality & Diversity Prefect, passionately advocating for inclusion, wellbeing and human rights within her school community.

Outside  school, Samiha volunteers at a local National Trust site, supports neighbours through gardening, and is a young carer for a disabled friend. She also hopes to become a vet and spends any spare time helping care for and train animals.

2026 Winner - Liam Richards

After joining college from a pupil referral unit during a difficult period in his education, Liam arrived feeling isolated and worried that he would be defined by the EHCP supporting his needs, rather than by who he truly was. Yet through determination, self-belief and a love of music, he has transformed both his confidence and his future.

A self-taught pianist and performer, Liam found in music a way to express himself and grow in confidence, progressing from struggling to leave the college campus to performing publicly as a lead singer with incredible stage presence and personality.

Liam is also known for the kindness and reassurance he offers other young people, especially those feeling anxious or unsure. In his words, he simply wants “to be the person he would have wanted to speak to.”
Featured on BBC Somerset, Liam spoke openly about his own experiences and the support that helped change his life, encouraging others to come forward and seek help when needed.
Liam lives by the belief that “you never know what someone else may be going through, so just be kind to everyone.” It’s a simple philosophy, but one that perfectly reflects the remarkable young man he is.

2026 Winner - Imogen Legg

The creative talent, enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication displayed by Imogen to the arts have made a lasting impression on everyone around her.

Since joining the T-Level Media, Broadcast and Production course, Imogen has quickly become a key and highly respected member of the group. Whether confidently presenting in front of the camera or working behind the scenes as a producer, she brings energy and creativity to every project. She is known for supporting her peers, encouraging others and helping productions run smoothly both in the studio and on location.

During her industry placement with Aspen Waite, Imogen produced and presented her own online podcast show, demonstrating impressive confidence, professionalism and natural communication skills in a real working environment.

Alongside her media studies, Imogen has also achieved Grade 8 in ballet, balancing her academic work with an extraordinary commitment to the performing arts.

Imogen’s creativity, determination and willingness to embrace every opportunity make her a wonderful example of Somerset’s emerging young creative talent.

Not awarded in 2026

Named in memory of Chief Superintendent Sandy Padgett, a dedicated and respected figure in Somerset's police force, this award seeks to recognise those who embody the spirit of commitment, service, and extraordinary achievement that Sandy represented throughout her life.

The Sandy Padgett Award is open to any young person who has demonstrated exceptional achievement or contribution in any field or endeavour. This award is not limited by the type of achievement but is rather focused on the extraordinary nature and impact of the nominee's actions.

2026 Winner - Grace Liang

Grace is one of Somerset’s highest-achieving students, achieving an extraordinary GCSE profile of eight grade 9s and three grade 8s before going on to study four demanding A Levels in Law, Politics, English Literature and Music. Predicted three A*s and an A, Grace has also earned a place to study Law at the University of Oxford.

Beyond the classroom, Grace has helped establish the college’s new Law Society and played a key role in the mooting team, a competitive legal debating team which argues mock court cases, helping them reach the Bar Mock Trial National Finals for two consecutive years and earning outstanding advocacy scores along the way. Through Model United Nations, she has also received multiple awards for her diplomacy, leadership and ability to debate complex global issues.

As if this wasn’t enough, alongside her academic success, Grace is a talented musician, performing in the college Orchestra, Choir and live productions, whilst also giving her time to mentor and support fellow Law students. She is generous with her time and genuinely invested in the progress and wellbeing of those around her.
Intelligent, humble and incredibly driven, Grace is a wonderful example of academic achievement.