The EmpowerEU awards have returned for the second year to celebrate the inspiring organisations, networks and projects that are improving the lives of EU citizens in the UK.
After last year’s success, the 2025 awards once again aim to highlight the dedication and creativity of the grassroots initiatives strengthening EU-UK relations across the UK, from building bridges between communities to fostering cross-border connections for young people.
This year’s shortlist recognises contributions across three categories:
1. Inspiring European Connections:
- Centrala: a vibrant arts and community organisation based in Birmingham connecting Central and Eastern European communities with wider UK audiences and amplifying the voices of EU citizens.
- CONNECTS-UK is led by EU nationals working in British universities, with the aim of building meaningful professional and intercultural connections between EU and UK researchers.
- Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE): a broad civil society coalition, dedicated to sustaining Scotland’s connections with Europe and ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard in the EU-UK relationship.
2. Youth Champions
- Erasmus Student Network UK supports EU and international students in the UK, and advocates for accessible opportunities for student mobility through the Embrace Erasmus+ campaign.
- UCL European and International Social and Political Studies Society is a student-led hub for intercultural learning and exchange, offering students the chance to explore European politics and culture while building friendships across national lines.
- Youth For Inclusive Europe: a youth-led organisation creating spaces for young Europeans to connect, advocate and influence debates about identity, rights and inclusion.
3. Community Champions
- Europia: a well-established community organisation serving EU nationals across Greater Manchester.
- Liverpool European Partnership brings together EU citizens and allies to celebrate European identity and address challenges facing local communities.
- New Europeans UK: a grassroots organisation dedicated to ensuring EU citizens feel a sense of belonging in the UK; they embed their work in local neighbourhoods while connecting it to national advocacy.
This years shortlisted organisations exemplifies what the EmpowerEU awards stand for; collaboration, inclusion, and civic participation. Their work helps to strengthening ties between communities, make EU citizens feel seen, supported and connected.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 20 November in London, hosted at the Greater London Authority (GLA), with Debbie Weekes Bernard, London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, delivering the welcome address.
Read the original announcement on the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland website.
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