BBC Young Reporter is inviting young people aged 11-18 from across the UK to submit their story ideas and work with the BBC to make their reports a reality. The broadcaster will showcase 100 original stories by young people in 2022, as it marks its 100th anniversary.

The BBC Young Reporter Competition is an opportunity for young people to tell a story that’s important to their life or the world around them. BBC Young Reporter and its predecessor School Report have together engaged with around half a million children since 2006.

The competition is backed by an array of BBC on-air talent, with Huw Edwards, Alex Jones, Naga Munchetty and Nikki Fox part of the judging panel that will select 40 winning stories.

National and regional winners will work with BBC journalists, producers and programme makers to prepare their story for broadcast across the BBC, including on The One Show, BBC Breakfast, Newsround, BBC Three, BBC News and BBC Local Radio programmes, as well as online and on social media platforms.

Judge and long term supporter of the project, The One Show’s Alex Jones, says: "The BBC Young Reporter Competition is about empowering young people to play a part in what we all see, hear and read on the BBC and being part of the panel picking the winners is always such a privilege. It's so brilliant to really hear more about the issues that matter most to them. I can’t wait to see all the story ideas and their unique perspectives again this year!"

Sam Taylor, Managing Editor for BBC News & Current Affairs, and BBC Young Reporter project sponsor, says: “BBC Young Reporter works all year round to help young people develop their media literacy, understand the importance of impartiality, and navigate what’s real and what’s fake.

“Our annual BBC Young Reporter Competition will help the next generation of talented storytellers tell their stories on some of the BBC’s most watched programmes and services, and learn from our top broadcast and digital talent. We’re looking forward to marking the BBC’s centenary with an exciting range of stories from young people right across the UK.”

How to enter BBC Young Reporter

Entries can be submitted at bbc.co.uk/youngreportercompetition - where the full Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice are also available. The closing date is Sunday 27 March 2022 and the winners will be announced in June 2022.

Story ideas can be written, or uploaded as video or audio and are shortlisted in two age groups: 11-15 and 16-18 years old. Entries can also be submitted in Welsh.

Stories will be considered on editorial merit, based on the strength of the idea, originality, and the judges will be looking for a range of diverse stories from across the UK.

BBC Young Reporter 2021 Winners

Past winners have reported on topics such as volunteering, organ transplants, stammering, exam policy and the lack of diversity in gaming characters.

Last year, 17-year-old Ben from South Derbyshire worked with BBC Sport to report on the experience of being an apprentice footballer at a professional club; 14-year-old Wilamena from Falmouth shared her story about how she uses music to help her cope with Tourette's Syndrome; 13 year old Declan from Nuneaton explained how fishing gave him his confidence back; while 17-year-old Zoe, from South Lanarkshire discussed being a keyworker in a care home during lockdown.

Watch the highlights from last year’s competition on BBC iPlayer.

There will be opportunities for a further 60 students who are inspired by BBC 100 Share Your Story – the BBC’s ambitious UK-wide storytelling school tour starting next month – to have their stories featured across the BBC later in 2022.

Notes to editors

BBC Young Reporter engages with thousands of 11-18 year olds across the UK every year, in partnership with schools, colleges and youth organisations.

Formerly known as BBC School Report ,the project has been running for 16 years as part of the BBC’s commitment to media literacy and supporting young people’s understanding and interest in broadcasting and the creative industries.

The initiative works with young people in three ways - supporting them to tell their stories on BBC programmes and platforms, giving them skills and information about how to differentiate between real news and false information, and with the help of BBC staff ambassadors giving them advice and inspiration about careers in the media.

From 7-12 March 2022 the annual BBC Young Reporter Festival will take place offering a week of media skills and career-related events and outreach activities for young people. This programme is co-hosted by BBC Academy, BBC Education and BBC News and includes a BBC Teach ‘Share Your Story’ Live Lesson and partnership with National Careers Week.

More details about BBC Young Reporter: www.bbc.co.uk/youngreporter

To keep up to date with BBC Young Reporter, follow @BBCYoungReport on Twitter or head to the BBC Young Reporter YouTube page.