(Commonwealth)—The 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards is also introducing a new and creative award for excellence in the power of communication and storytelling. The Patsy Robertson Award for Excellence in Developing Communication Skills in the Interest of Peace and Community Development will honor young broadcasters, journalists, and writers whose reportage is testing freedom of expression, diversity of community, and democracy for the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Association, one of the clubs of former staff of the Commonwealth Secretariat, is inaugurating a new award in memory of Patsy Robertson, its first chair and former Commonwealth Secretariat director of communications. Robertson was best known for her committed reporting, activism for the advancement of women in the media, and building communicative capacity to assist in constructing more peaceful and reconciliatory societies.
This award acts as a powerful spur to the Commonwealth Youth Awards, reflecting the growing role of the media and communications in being forces for development and change. The recipient of the Patsy Robertson Award will receive £1,000 cash award, certificate, and trophy and global recognition for his/her efforts.
Empowering Youth Voices for Peace and Development
A new section has been added to honor young media professionals who positively impact their communities. It invites applications from all communications professionals, including editors, reporters, photographers, webcasters, social media campaigners, bloggers, podcasters, broadcasters, and streamers.
Under the overall Commonwealth Youth Awards judging framework, the nominee should be a citizen of a Commonwealth country, aged 15 to 29 years on or before December 31, 2025, and have developmental working experience for more than one year in professional terms or voluntary programs. The activity they engage in should be able to demonstrate the greatest contribution towards the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For the Patsy Robertson Award, the application has to show clearly how their project is helping achieve SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Application involves sending copies of their communications work, professional affidavit, and proof of actual impact of their work in mainstreaming social cohesion, transparency, and empowerment into society.
Applications for all 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards, including this new communications award, are now open and should be received by 17 October 2025.
Honor Patsy Robertson’s Legacy
The award is in memory of Patsy Robertson, who devoted her life to truth, justice, and communications excellence. Her work at the Commonwealth Secretariat made sure that media were accorded some priority as a good enabler of democratic engagement and intercultural understanding. She was a staunch advocate of the practice of ethics in responsible journalism and carried out a vigorous campaign to empower youths to utilize their space for the common social good.
Through this award, the Commonwealth Association is doubling back and extending Robertson’s feistiness by motivating new communicators with her integrity, imagination, and courage. The award recognizes young journalists not only as storytellers but also as agents of change, enabling communities to dismantle barriers, reconcile differences, and promote transparency and harmony.
Empowering the Next Generation of Media Leaders
The organization vows to empower young people working towards reconstructing the future of nations by establishing the Patsy Robertson Award for the Commonwealth Youth Awards. In recognizing communication excellence, the Commonwealth is challenging those young leaders who are using the media in an attempt to educate, inspire, and unite nations.
Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work recognizes young people who have been at the forefront of their contributions to social development, sustainability, and innovation. The awards recognize young change-makers on an annual basis who drive national and local development through leadership, innovation, and resilience.
With this new category, the Commonwealth reaffirms that peace, justice, and good governance come from communication. Young communicators must become the bulwarks of advocating for the voiceless, holding the institutions to account, and taking world culture to openness and collaboration.
Applications are now open at this stage for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards, and this new category is a hope and possibilities girdle for young media specialists who would like to be able to make a difference by doing their bit. This category celebrates the power of words, stories, and digital imagination for a more tolerant, more informed, and more-peaceful world—Patsy Robertson’s vision and energy continued.
