Tower Hamlets Women's Awards Ceremony 2026

Theme: Balance the Scales – Acting on the Voices of Women

Tower Hamlets Women’s Awards 2026 celebrates the women and groups who are helping to balance the scales for gender equity and acting on the voices of women in Tower Hamlets, recognising their leadership, care, advocacy and impact across the community.

The ceremony will take place on 23 March 2026 to celebrate International Women’s Day in March.

If you would like to recognise an individual or group who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service, read the guidance and nominate them for an award. The deadline to submit your nomination is 15 February. 

Attend the ceremony

Date and time: Monday 23 March 2026, 10am to 1pm

Venue: Grocers' Wing, Tower Hamlets Town Hall

Book your free tickets

Stallholders

If you are an organisation interested in having a stall at the event, please contact Equalities@towerhamlets.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Women’s Awards 2026 stallholder enquiry’.

Award Categories 2026

1. Gender equity champion of the year

This award recognises an individual, charity, group or business that has tirelessly advocated for women and made a real impact on gender equity in the past year. This includes those that lobby for women’s rights, speak up about the challenges women face, and tackle inequalities faced by women for example in health, employment, leadership and safety.

2. Carer of the year

This award recognises the contribution of and spotlights the voices of women who take on caring roles. The award celebrates the exceptional impact that carers have made to their family or community through a caring role in the past year. This includes parents, foster relatives, kinship carers, child carers and carers of family, partners or members of the community.

3. Civic contribution of the year

This award celebrates an outstanding woman who has made a significant contribution to the local community in a civic (unpaid) role over the past year through dedicating time and effort. This includes women in voluntary roles, school governors, or a local campaigner. The award celebrates a woman that has made a significant impact to the community in the past year, for example by acting on the voices of women, fundraising, influencing change, providing practical support, or advocacy.

4. Businessowner excellence of the year

This award recognises the achievements and impact of a woman business owner over the past year. The award celebrates the leadership and innovation of business owners and their local impact as employers, providing services to local people and as an inspiration to local women. This includes women who are self-employed, entrepreneurs, or own a small or large business.

5. Community group of the year

This award recognises the impact of a women’s community group in the borough on women’s lives over the past year. The award celebrates the role women’s groups who play an important role in delivering services to women and listening and acting on the voices of women. This includes projects, charities, grassroots organisations and social groups set up for women.

6. Young woman of the year

This award recognises the outstanding impact of a young woman (aged under 30) to their local community in the past year. This award shines a light on the achievements of young women who are excellent role models for a future generation of leaders. This award is open to any young woman who has made a significant positive local impact through contributing towards balancing the scales on gender equity, acting on the voices of women or their community, through leadership or influencing change.

7. Lifetime achievement award

This award celebrates the outstanding contribution that an individual has made to the local community over a lifetime. This award recognises that community impact and contribution to gender equity are often the outcome of long-term effort and dedication. This award is open to women who have made a lasting impact to their local community over a period of more than fifteen years.

8. Sector impact of the year

This award recognises the exceptional contribution of women to a wide range of sectors. Nominations are particularly welcome from women who have made an impact in typically male-dominated fields and balanced the scales on gender equity or acted on the voices of women in their role. This award celebrates the outstanding impact made by a woman in their sector over the past year, including but not limited to research, healthcare, the arts, public sector, science, education, and construction.

Nomination guidance

1. Nominations should only be made relating to achievements over the last 12 months (with the exception of the Lifetime Achievement Award).
2. All nominees must live or work in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets Council employees cannot be nominated for an award.
3. You can nominate an individual or group for more than one category, but you must use separate nomination forms and ensure each nomination is applicable to each category.
4. Ensure that the person you wish to nominate agrees to being nominated and consents to you sharing their name and contact details. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the event and you should ensure the person you nominate is available to attend the event on 23 March 2026.
5. Nominations will be scored using an assessment criteria. Please ensure your nomination includes evidence of the following criteria: Clear evidence of impact and influencing positive outcomes on the local community, Responding to the voices and the needs of women and the local community, Tackling inequity and successfully addressing the barriers women face in the borough
6. You may be asked to support or verify the evidence as part of the nominations you make.
7. Additional guidance for each category can be found in the description for each award category.