Breaking Barriers has been named winner of the Spark the Change Award at the National Arts and Cultural Education Awards 2026, held at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
The award recognises Crossing the Line, Breaking Barriers’ Theatre in Education programme which uses the power of live performance to educate young people about Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). Since its creation, Crossing the Line has reached over 15,000 young people across more than 220 schools in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Crossing the Line is a Theatre in Education programme designed to educate young people about CCE. The programme has reached over 15,000 young people across 220+ schools in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and has been commissioned by the National County Lines Coordination Centre, Greater Manchester Police, East Lancashire Police, Salford City Council and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit. It has demonstrated measurable impact, with a 53% increase in young people’s understanding of grooming and a 29% increase in their understanding of peer pressure following performances.
Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director of Breaking Barriers, said: “Winning this award is an incredible honour and a testament to the power of arts education to change lives. Crossing the Line exists because we believe that young people deserve to understand the realities of exploitation and that theatre is one of the most powerful tools we have to make that happen. This recognition belongs to every young person that has engaged with the piece, every partner that has supported us to bring this work into schools and every member of our team who has poured their heart into this work.”
Breaking Barriers was selected as winner from a strong field of finalists at the awards, which celebrate excellence in arts and cultural education across England. A total of 231 submissions were received across 10 award categories.
Crossing the Line has also been shortlisted for the Partnership Award at the National Children and Young People Awards, recognising the programme’s work delivered in partnership with the National County Lines Coordination Centre on its most recent tour. The nomination highlights the strength of the collaboration between Breaking Barriers and NCLCC in reaching young people across the country with vital safeguarding education through the arts.
