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.

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 >