West Midlands Teens Shortlisted for Citizen Award 2026

Key Points

• Sienna Ahir and Reice James from West Midlands are on the list of candidates nominated for the Outstanding Young Citizen Award.
• Sienna Ahir, 17, campaigns against knife crime and established the youth-led campaign Daggers Down.
• Due to Daggers Down, 12 kits for public access bleed control have been installed in the area.
• Sienna Ahir also promotes youth safety, first aid, mental health awareness, and fights against exploitation.
• Reice James, 18, is a volunteer and an activist campaigning about the importance of raising awareness about mental health among males.
• Reice James was a head cadet in Midlands Police Cadets and works as a volunteer at St John Ambulance.
• The winner will be announced on 28 September at Coventry Boys and Girls Club.
• The award is granted to those who contribute to the development of their communities significantly.

Wales (Wales Times) September 15, 2026 – West Midlands teens shortlisted for citizen award Sienna Ahir and Reice James have been recognised for their work raising awareness of knife crime, youth violence and mental-health issues.

The teenagers are contenders for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outstanding Young Citizen Award. The winner is expected to be announced on 28 September at Coventry Boys and Girls Club.

The nomination recognises two different forms of community work. Ahir has led campaigns focused on youth safety and violence prevention, while James has supported volunteering, mentoring and men’s mental-health awareness.

Why have Sienna Ahir and Reice James been shortlisted?

Seventeen-year-old Sienna Ahir was nominated after establishing Daggers Down, a youth-led safety initiative intended to improve awareness of knife crime and help communities respond to serious injuries.

According to the BBC report, the initiative has contributed to the installation of 12 bleed-control kits in publicly accessible locations across the region. Such kits are designed to provide emergency equipment that can be used to control severe bleeding while people wait for medical help.

Ahir is a former Youth Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton and has used that experience to advocate for young people and campaign against youth violence.

Her work has included fundraising, public speaking and organising activities designed to give young people practical information about safety. She has also worked with schools, British Transport Police and the Violence Reduction Partnership.

The BBC reported that Ahir has helped deliver assemblies covering first aid, exploitation and knife-crime awareness. These sessions have aimed to give pupils information about the dangers associated with violence and the steps they can take to protect themselves and others.

What is Daggers Down?

Daggers Down is a safety initiative led by young people and associated with Ahir’s campaign against knife crime.

The initiative focuses on practical intervention as well as public awareness. Its contribution to the installation of 12 bleed-control kits has been one of the most visible parts of the project.

The kits are intended for use in emergencies involving serious bleeding. Their availability can be particularly important in situations where a person may lose a dangerous amount of blood before an ambulance arrives.

Ahir has also linked the initiative to wider concerns about how young people view their future. In comments previously reported by the BBC, she said that negative perceptions of Wolverhampton could discourage young people and leave them feeling disadvantaged.

She said the purpose of Daggers Down was to help young people feel more hopeful about their futures.

The wording of the quotation reproduced by the BBC contains transcription issues, but its central message is that youth-led action can give young people confidence and encourage them to play a positive role in their communities.

What other work has Sienna Ahir carried out?

Ahir has taken part in the UK Parliament’s Youth Select Committee. She also led an inquiry examining the relationship between social media and youth violence.

The inquiry reflects concerns about how online content, communication and harmful influence can affect young people. The BBC report did not state that the inquiry established a single cause of youth violence. Instead, it described Ahir’s involvement in examining the connections between social media and violence among young people.

Her work has also involved cooperation with organisations responsible for transport policing, violence reduction and education.

By working with schools and public bodies, Ahir has been involved in both prevention and awareness efforts. The activities have covered first aid, exploitation and knife crime, rather than focusing solely on punishment after an incident.

Simon Foster, the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, praised Ahir’s contribution. The quotation published by the BBC also contains apparent transcription problems, but Foster’s reported remarks described her as an example of what young people can achieve when they are given the opportunity to lead, volunteer and support their communities.

What has Reice James done for his community?

Eighteen-year-old Reice James has been recognised for a broad programme of volunteering and campaigning.

James has campaigned to raise awareness of men’s mental health. His work has focused on encouraging people to speak about mental-health concerns and helping to reduce the isolation that can prevent some men from seeking support.

He has also mentored young people and volunteered with Sandwell Council. These activities have placed him in contact with people in his local community and have allowed him to support public and youth-focused projects.

James previously held the position of head cadet with the Midlands Police Cadets. The role involved responsibility within a youth organisation connected to policing and community service.

He currently contributes as a Community First Aider and Emergency Responder with St John Ambulance. These roles involve volunteering to support people during emergencies and community activities.

The BBC report also said that James’s contribution had been recognised through King’s Jubilee medals. The report did not provide further details about the specific medals or the ceremonies connected with them.

When will the award winner be announced?

The winner of the Outstanding Young Citizen Award is due to be announced on 28 September at Coventry Boys and Girls Club.

Ahir and James are competing for the same award, but their nominations reflect different areas of community involvement. Ahir’s work centres on knife-crime prevention, youth violence awareness and practical safety measures. James’s work includes men’s mental-health campaigning, volunteering, emergency response and mentoring.

The award therefore brings together different forms of youth contribution. It recognises both campaign work aimed at changing public awareness and direct volunteering that supports people and community organisations.

The BBC report did not state how many nominees were shortlisted overall or provide details of the judging process. It identified Ahir and James as contenders for the award and gave the date and location for the planned announcement.

Why does the nomination matter to West Midlands communities?

The nominations draw attention to issues that affect young people across the West Midlands, including knife crime, exploitation, mental health and access to emergency support.

Knife crime has consequences not only for victims and their families but also for witnesses, schools, transport users and local residents. Raising awareness of bleeding control and improving access to emergency equipment are practical aspects of community safety.

Mental-health advocacy addresses a different but related concern. Young people and adults may face difficulties that are not immediately visible to others. Campaigns encouraging discussion about men’s mental health can help bring the issue into public conversations.

The two nominations also highlight the role young people can play in responding to local problems. Ahir and James have not been described only as recipients of support. Their nominations reflect their involvement as organisers, campaigners, volunteers and community representatives.

Their activities have also crossed organisational boundaries. Ahir has worked with schools, the British Transport Police and the Violence Reduction Partnership. James has contributed through the Midlands Police Cadets, St John Ambulance and Sandwell Council.

What did the BBC report about the nominees?

The BBC article, titled “West Midlands teens shortlisted for outstanding citizen award”, reported that both teenagers had been nominated because of their efforts to increase awareness of knife crime and mental-health issues.

The report described Ahir as a former Youth Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton and identified her as the founder of Daggers Down. It stated that the initiative had helped secure 12 bleed-control kits in publicly accessible locations around the region.

The BBC also reported her involvement with the UK Parliament’s Youth Select Committee and an inquiry into social media and youth violence. Her work with schools and public organisations was included as further evidence of her community contribution.

The report described James as a committed volunteer who had served as head cadet with the Midlands Police Cadets. It also identified his work as a Community First Aider and Emergency Responder with St John Ambulance.

His campaigning for men’s health, mentoring of young people and volunteering with Sandwell Council were also included in the report.

The BBC attributed comments about Ahir’s leadership to Simon Foster, the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner. The report did not include a separate opposing viewpoint because the story concerned nominations and community achievements rather than a disputed allegation or contested policy.

What happens next for the shortlisted teenagers?

The immediate next stage is the award announcement on 28 September at Coventry Boys and Girls Club.

Until the result is announced, neither nominee can be described as the winner. Both remain shortlisted contenders, and the final outcome will depend on the award’s judging process.

Regardless of the result, the nominations provide public recognition for their work. Ahir’s campaign has drawn attention to practical measures such as bleed-control kits and educational sessions. James’s volunteering and mental-health advocacy have highlighted the contribution that young people can make through service and campaigning.

What is the background to the Outstanding Young Citizen Award development?

The Outstanding Young Citizen Award is being presented through the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s office. The nomination of Ahir and James comes amid continuing public concern about youth violence, knife crime and mental health.

Ahir’s involvement reflects a prevention-based approach. Her work has combined awareness campaigns, education, first-aid training and the provision of emergency equipment. The inclusion of social-media and youth-violence issues in her parliamentary inquiry has also connected local campaigning with broader questions about the online environment.

James’s nomination reflects the importance of sustained volunteering. His activities have included youth cadet leadership, emergency-response work, mentoring and campaigning on men’s health.

Together, the nominations show how youth recognition programmes can cover different forms of civic contribution. One nominee has focused on awareness and safety initiatives, while the other has combined volunteering with mental-health advocacy and community service.

The available BBC report does not provide a wider history of the award, information about previous winners or the full list of shortlisted candidates. Those details should not be assumed until confirmed by the organisers or another reliable source.

How could the nominations affect West Midlands young people?

The nominations could encourage more young people to take part in volunteering, campaigning and local safety initiatives by showing that youth-led work can receive public recognition.

Ahir’s work may increase awareness of bleed-control kits and first-aid training among schools, community groups and young people. James’s nomination may also help keep men’s mental health and youth volunteering in local discussions.

The effect will depend on what follows the award announcement. Continued support from schools, councils, public-safety organisations and charities could help turn the attention generated by the nominations into further participation.

The development does not by itself demonstrate that knife crime or mental-health problems have been reduced. It shows that two young people are being recognised for responding to those issues through campaigning, education, volunteering and community support.