The Vicky Ireland Award – 2025

The Vicky Ireland Award is a new award founded by Action for Children’s Arts in 2025; created to honour our founder, former Chair and now Ambassador Vicky Ireland MBE on her 80th Birthday this spring.  Vicky is a dedicated and energetic campaigner and a fierce advocate, always striving to improve access to all arts forms for children and young people.  Vicky highlights the importance of children having opportunities to participate fully in the arts, that message is front and centre to all of Vicky’s campaigning work with the rights of children to arts access always central to her message.

Chosen from a prestigious list of nominees selected by the ACA trustees, this year’s inaugural winner was selected by Vicky Ireland. We are proud to announce that acclaimed filmmaker, campaigner, Crossbench Peer and children’s rights advocate Baroness Beeban Kidron is the 2025 recipient of the Vicky Ireland Award.

This new award celebrates those who have made a lasting and transformative impact on the artistic lives of children and young people in the UK, but who do not work directly in the children’s arts field. This year’s nomination recognises Baroness Kidron’s tireless commitment to ensuring children’s voices, rights, and imaginations are not only heard but celebrated across media and policy, with a particular focus on the conversation around digital boundaries and access.

A BAFTA-winning director, Baroness Kidron is best known for films such as Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and the critically acclaimed documentary InRealLife. She is also the founder of 5Rights Foundation, a pioneering organisation that champions children’s rights in the digital world, and was instrumental in shaping the Age Appropriate Design Code, a world-first standard for children’s online safety.

“Beeban Kidron has consistently used her platform and creativity to amplify the rights and potential of young people,” said Janet Robertson, Chair of Action for Children’s Arts . “Her work is a remarkable blend of artistic excellence, social justice, and passionate advocacy—exactly the spirit of the Vicky Ireland Award.”

Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE:

I am honoured to be given an award in Vicky Ireland’s name. She is a fierce advocate for children and young people and has tirelessly campaigned for children’s right to access the arts.  Art is central to being human and in championing children’s entitlement, to participate in every art form, is to champion every child to reach their full potential.

The Vicky Ireland Award Ceremony was held on Wednesday 20th August at the University Women’s Club, Audley Street, Mayfair. Pioneers of Education for Women for nearly 140 years, the University Women’s Club offers a welcoming and secure environment for professional, business, student, and graduate women in the very heart of Mayfair.

Joined by ACA Trustees Janet Robertson (Chair), Emma Borley, Catherine Ritman-Smith, and the award’s namesake Vicky Ireland MBE, the award was presented over cream tea.

Vicky Ireland MBE:

To be given the honour of an award in your name is one thing. To, in turn, award it to a deserving individual, is another. I have long admired and respected Baroness Beeban Kidron for her stand on upholding children’s rights, especially regarding online child safety and it is with total delight that I nominate her for this award. A brilliant woman with a huge heart, her sincere respect for children, her absolute determination to do her best for them and her unwavering courage to stand up and speak out on their behalf, is why I chose her as my champion. Thank you Beeban, for all you do, and for being you.

Congratulations Beeban! We salute your brilliant work and tireless campaigning for children and young people.