Nominations for the 2026 Memorial and Gala Campaigner Awards close on 1 August

4WardEverUK • 21 May 2026

provided by: Memorial Family Fund

published: 1 May 2026

Image Credit: Charmaine Burton


Nominations Are Now Open!


The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Gala Dinner & Campaigners Awards was first conceived in 2021, with its inaugural event held in November 2023.


Tippa Naphtali, NMPMFF founder and Development & Programmes Manager, said;

"These awards recognise the efforts of grassroots individuals, groups and organisations that have developed or led on initiatives supporting those that have been affected by state custody deaths and killings or injustices, or that have demonstrated a significant commitment to making change in our communities and raising public awareness at all levels."


The 2026 award event is dedicated to the renowned poet, activist and writer, Benjamin Zephaniah, who was also a cousin of Mikey Powell.

Awards nomination form

Nominations can be submitted up to midnight on 1 August 2026


Please ensure that you have read and understood the nomination categories and agree to any terms and conditions set out in the nomination form. All nominees must be UK-based and 18 years of age or over.


Only one person can be nominated for each category, and they can be an individual or from a campaign group, social enterprise, community organisation, or charity.

Submit nominations here >
Awards nomination QR code

Scan the QR Code


This provides you with instant access to our nomination form.


Please Note: If you're using a mobile device, be sure you can access any data required when completing your nomination.

The 2026 activists campaign awards will be in the following categories:


  • Mikey Powell Youth Action Award
  • Benjamin Zephaniah Literary Award
  • Pauline Campbell Systems Change Award
  • Gilly Mundy Family Advocacy Award
  • Joy Gardner Arts & Education Award


If you know of anyone that is deserving of a NMPMFF Campaigners Award, we would love to hear from you, and hopefully we’ll see you on the big night!


The event will take place at a London location on 21 November 2026.

(exact date and location to be announced).

Dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah


Dr Benjamin Zephaniah (cousin of Mikey Powell), died on 7 December 2023 aged 65. He died in the early hours of Thursday morning after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks before. Read Guardian article here >

share this article on social media

Rodney Reed

New DNA evidence and racial bias claims renew push to overturn Rodney Reed’s death sentence

by 4WardEverUK • 11 September 2026
Nearly three decades after Rodney Reed was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Stacey Stites, new evidence and allegations of racial bias are fueling efforts to overturn his conviction.
Steve Biko

Steve Biko inquest halted as family warns: ‘We have been through that’

by 4WardEverUK • 10 September 2026
The reopened inquest into the death of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko has been temporarily halted after his family asked the High Court in Gqeberha for more time to prepare.
IOPC report

IOPC Publish custody deaths statistics for England and Wales 2025-2026

by 4WardEverUK • 6 September 2026
In July 2026 the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) released details of their custody deaths following police contact statistics for England and Wales in the year 2025-2026.
Daniel Morgan

Why the infamous axe murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987 remains frustratingly unsolved

by 4WardEverUK • 29 August 2026
On 10 March 1987 Daniel Morgan left The Golden Lion pub after a drink with a colleague. As he strolled across the car park to his vehicle, Daniel was attacked from behind with an axe.
migrant boat

Migrant deaths climb sharply in 2026, new UN data shows

by 4WardEverUK • 27 August 2026
Newest route-based data shows a spike in fatalities among people seeking a better life, from the Bay of Bengal to the Atlantic Ocean, many of them falling prey to traffickers along the way.
refugee camp

Response to Guardian letter on Iran: Which side are you on?

by 4WardEverUK • 26 August 2026
WorkersWorld said; The Guardian’s occasional progressive stances can cause confusion in understanding who are our allies and who are our enemies in the struggle against imperialism.
More Articles