Just Like Us Ambassador awards celebrate ‘life-changing’ achievements of young LGBT+ volunteers

Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity, brought together 30 of its young adult volunteers to listen to their thoughts and experiences about what LGBT+ young people need right now, and celebrate their incredible achievements at the Ambassador Awards 2026.

Just Like Us ambassadors are LGBT+ young people aged 18-25 who volunteer their time and use their voices to speak in schools, contribute to school resources, and speak in the media, on panels and in workplaces to share the message that all LGBT+ young people should grow up knowing that who they are is something to be celebrated.

On 1 August in central London – where our Ambassador Programme is funded by the National Lottery – our charity brought together ambassadors from across the UK to learn from their experiences and perspectives as LGBT+ young people. The event was made possible by the kind generosity of JPMorganChase.

They shared their thoughts on the power of Pride Groups, and how LGBT+ visibility in schools is vital for youth advocacy. One ambassador said: “Seeing a young person speaking makes children feel like they have a voice, too.” Another said: “School talks are worth their weight in gold!”

With anti-LGBT+ setiment and bullying on the rise, ensuring our ambassadors, and LGBT+ young people more broadly, feel seen and heard is more important than ever. They said that wider system change must begin in schools, with one young person explaining: “That’s especially true when you think about the change that trans young people need. Pride Groups set examples for other schools to follow.”

After a day of strategising, the charity honoured the achievements of these young people, both as volunteers and as members of a vibrant community of LGBT+ young people nationwide, supporting and uplifting each other in a difficult climate.

We are delighted to share the winners of the 2026 Ambassador Awards.

Ambassador of the Year – Maitreyi Tusharika

This award was given to an ambassador who has reached the end of their time on our Ambassador Programme but who has made an outstanding contribution to the charity. We look forward to them becoming alumni once they have aged out of the programme.

Ambassador Maitreyi Tusharika accepts her award. (Paul Grace)

Maitreyi Tusharika has volunteered to speak in schools with Just Like Us for four years, and in that time has spoken to nearly 10,000 school pupils. She has been a pillar of our ambassador community, helped to train new ambassadors, advocated for LGBT+ young people across social and broadcast media, taken part in skills workshops, represented the charity at events and has always shown an unwavering commitment.

“Just Like Us has genuinely changed my life,” Maitreyi said, accepting the award. During these four years, having an impact in schools, I have grown up in so many ways and changed in so many ways. I came to the charity having just overcome a lot of internalised homophobia – I was ashamed of my sexuality, I didn’t have a label for it, I didn’t want to have a label for it because I wanted to get rid of it for most of my life. I didn’t realise until I started doing school talks that I had so much work left to do. I still had so much to challenge, so much to overcome, and that’s what these four years have been about for me. It means a lot to me personally, this charity, and what it’s done for my life. All of the Ambassadors are amazing. We’re making such a big difference, to each other as well as to schools. I feel like I have a family here, and I have so much motivation to give back, which I can’t wait to do as an alumni.”

Volunteer of the Year – Nihar Mukund

This award goes to a young volunteer who has shown a real commitment to getting involved in volunteering opportunities across the charity, including speaking on panels, attending skill workshops, using their voice in the media, and being part of our Ambassador Panel that helps shape the future of the charity.

Ambassador Nihar Mukund accepts his award. (Paul Grace)

Upon receiving the award, Nihar said: “I think normally with an award like this, people think there is a degree of altruism, like: ‘He wants to do it out of the goodness of his heart.’ But honestly, it’s been easy to want to do your best for this organisation. The people have been amazing, from the start. Every single day, every single talk, every single ambassador, it just makes it easy to want to do more for Just Like Us.”

School Talks Champion – Scout Dragon

Our School Talks Champion is awarded to an ambassador who has shown an incredible commitment to delivering school talks over the last academic year.

Ambassador Scout Dragon accepts their award. (Paul Grace)

On collecting their award, Scout Dragon said: “When I first joined Just Like Us I had so much anxiety I didn’t really speak at my training, and that was two and a half years ago now.”

Yet in the last year alone, Scout has delivered an unbelievable 47 school talks, reaching 4,551 pupils. Scout has openly shared their story, creating a life-changing impact for LGBT+ young people all over the UK.

Rising Star – Jack Roberts

The Rising Star award, given to Ambassadors who have made huge strides in just a short time with the charity, was given to Jack Roberts.

Since beginning his journey with Just Like Us just over a year ago, Jack has delivered 39 school talks, as well as diving into skills workshops and helping to train new ambassadors, becoming a powerful spokesperson for LGBT+ youth.

LGBT+ young people celebrate at the Just Like Us Ambassador awards. (Paul Grace)

Community Champion – Eri Foster

The Community Champion award 2026 goes to an ambassador who has made an amazing contribution to the Just Like Us Ambassador community, helping others, making sure that others feel included and validated at every turn, showing kindness and compassion through their volunteering.

This year’s winner, Eri Foster, was nominated by their fellow Ambassadors as someone who has shown kindness and bravery throughout their time with the charity. They are always supporting and uplifting other young people, ensuring they are included and listened to.

Hero of the Year – Cameron Wright

The Hero of the Year 2026 award honours an ambassador who is always happy to help with the momentous task of delivering school talks to tens of thousands of pupils across the country every year.

Cameron Wright has stepped in time and time again with kindness and a commitment to support their fellow ambassadors, ensuring that schools and pupils are not let down. They have travelled long distances to ensure that LGBT+ stories are told and vital representation reaches the young people that need it.