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Create a better future with the Mayor’s big ideas challenge

Are you aged between 16 and 26? The Mayor’s big ideas challenge is your chance to shape a happier and healthier West Yorkshire.

We’re looking for people who are interested in helping improve the health and happiness of young people in West Yorkshire. We want your ideas and potential solutions to one of these questions:

1. How could the growing, cooking, and sharing food bring people together and improve their wellbeing and health?

You may explore accessing healthy food, growing food locally, bringing people together to cook increasing awareness of nutritious food, using food to increase a sense of belonging or developing cooking skills.

2. What do you think could make a positive difference to the health and happiness of young people in West Yorkshire?

You may explore managing mental health or stress, nature and the outdoors, movement and sport, art, music or creative expression, safe places to be yourself, reducing loneliness, community or peer led projects.

Mayor Tracy Brabin posing for a selfie with a finalist from the Mayor's Big Ideas Challenge For Young People

Who can apply

16 – 26-year-olds living, working or studying in West Yorkshire at the time the challenge launches. You don’t need any qualifications – we're looking for motivated curious individuals wanting to make a difference to where they live. 

Why apply

If you’re selected for the programme, you will:

  • make a difference in your local communities
  • get at least £100 in vouchers if you finish the programme, and there will be prizes worth up to £625 for the winning ideas
  • receive product ‘incentives’ during the programme
  • learn about research, design, innovation and problem solving
  • meet new people with the same goals

How to enter

There are 54 places on the course.

Complete an application form, answering three key questions that tell us:

  • What being part of the Mayor’s big ideas challenge would mean to you – how would it benefit your development and personal aspirations? 
  • What interests you in the topic? What issues do you believe young people are facing and why do they matter?
  • What your initial idea is for solving the challenge you identified

Applications close on 30 November 2025.

Apply here

 Due to the functionality of Gmail, those with and without Gmail accounts will need to submit their applications using different forms:

What we’ll be looking for when you apply

We want to hear from young people in West Yorkshire who are passionate about the challenges they face – and are ready to act on them. Here’s what we’ll ask when you apply:

  • What would being part of the big ideas challenge mean to you? Tell us what you’d hope to gain from the experience.
  • What sparks your interest in health and happiness? Share a challenge or issue related to young people’s health and happiness in West Yorkshire that matters to you.
  • Describe your initial idea to solve the challenge and how it would help (remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect).
  • Can you attend the four core group sessions and the celebration event at the end? These sessions are essential for developing your idea and increasing your chances of winning prizes.

The prizes

Prizes are awarded in four categories. You can find details of what the prizes include, and the bonus incentives finalists will receive during the programme in the prospectus.

The challenge dates

There will also be additional online bonus sessions to help you deepen your skills and knowledge in innovation, and the opportunity to attend an event at the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival to share and gain feedback on your idea. 
 
For full details on what you can expect during the challenge, inspiration for what your initial idea could be, and how final ideas will be selected, please read the Mayor’s big ideas challenge prospectus.

Session 1 – Innovation and research 101
24 January 2026
Session 2 – Define your problem
05 February 2026
Session 3 – Generate ideas and prototype
07 February 2026
Session 4 – Prepare a pitch
21 February 2026
Submit final idea by video and poster
15 March 2026
Celebration event to announce the winners
23 March 2026
Mayor's Big Ideas Challenge For Young People Jul 25 (1)

Contact us 

If you have any other questions about the challenge, please contact us by email at bigideaschallenge@tpximpact.com

If you’re aged over 26 but want to support a younger person through the programme, please download the prospectus – there are slides in there to support you sharing the challenge with young people.  Contact us if you need any further help or have any questions or feedback, or if you would like us to share the challenge with your colleague or university students/youth groups. 

Terms and conditions

You can read TPXimpact’s privacy notice here, and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s privacy notice here. Read the full terms and conditions for the details.

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