Somerset Council has been confirmed as a finalist for 2 nominations at the 2026 Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards, recognising meaningful work that is making a difference to young people, families, and communities across the county.
The LGC Awards are among the most respected awards in local government, celebrating councils that deliver innovation and measurable impact for residents. In 2026, more than 1,000 entries were submitted from councils across the country, making shortlisting a significant achievement.
Somerset’s nominations include ‘Our Story’, an honest fostering recruitment campaign shortlisted for Campaign of the Year, alongside shortlisting for the Diversity and Inclusion Award for work transforming employment opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
With more than 650 Looked After Children in Somerset, and a wider decline in the number of foster carers across England, the need for more foster carers is increasingly urgent, both locally and nationally.
This context makes Somerset’s Campaign of the Year shortlisting particularly significant, recognising the long-term work to recruit and support foster carers, and the strong interested generated by the ‘Our Story’ campaign.
Shaped by feedback from existing foster carers, the campaign was deliberately honest, showing both the challenges and the rewards of fostering. By offering a clear and realistic picture, it helped people make informed decisions about whether fostering is right for them, while supporting better outcomes for children who need stable, loving homes.
The Diversity and Inclusion shortlisting recognises ‘Imagine the Possibilities’, a Somerset Council programme that is changing how young people with SEND move from education into paid work.
Across England, many young people with learning disabilities struggle to access employment, despite having the skills and ambition to succeed. In a large and mostly rural county like Somerset, these challenges are often made harder by distance, limited transport and fewer local opportunities.
Imagine the Possibilities works closely with schools, families, employers and national partners to remove these barriers and create clear, supported pathways into work. Through Supported Internships, the programme has grown from just one internship to 15, now supporting more than 100 young people each year to build confidence, independence and real workplace skills.
Independent research shows the programme goes beyond the employment, delivering strong social value and significant returns on investment through improved wellbeing, reduced reliance on public services and greater participation in the local economy. For young people and their families, it means higher aspirations, greater stability and the chance to imagine a future where work is possible and valued.
Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children and Families, said:
Being shortlisted for 2 LGC Awards reflects the real world impact of services that support some of Somerset’s most vulnerable residents, helping more children to grow up in stable, caring homes within their own communities, and enabling more young people with SEND to build skills, confidence and move into paid employment.
These nominations recognise the strength of partnership working across Somerset, bringing together the council, employers, schools, families and communities to achieve better outcomes, while making the best possible use of public money.
It’s wonderful to see these services and teams recognised for the difference they are making to young lives across Somerset every day.
The winners of the 2026 LGC Awards will be announced in June, with the shortlist available via its 2026 Shortlist page.
For more information about fostering visit fosteringinsomerset.org.uk.
