Ilkley Business Improvement District (BID) has announced its continued partnership with the Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards, co-sponsoring the event for the second year in a row.
Yorkshire Tots to Teens is an online community and website designed to help busy Yorkshire parents make the most of their family time. Founded by Erin Ek Rush, it has grown into a thriving online network, boasting over 100,000 followers on social media, more than 1 million annual website views and a vibrant group of Yorkshire bloggers. Erin’s goal is to provide an authentic voice for parents, helping them discover fun, family-friendly activities across the region.
The Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards as part of this community recognise businesses and venues that make family life in Yorkshire truly special. With categories ranging from cafés and restaurants to adventure parks, museums, and other family-friendly experiences, the awards give the public a chance to nominate their favourite businesses. The final winners are determined by a public voting process, ensuring that the results reflect genuine parent recommendations.
Last year’s awards saw an overwhelming response, with more than 700 nominations. The success of the competition has led to Ilkley BID returning as a co-sponsor for 2026, under its Discover Ilkley initiative, with the collaboration further strengthening Ilkley BID’s commitment to supporting local family-friendly businesses. In 2025, Ilkley's The Little Calf won the Best Family Friendly Café Award.
Sarah Brookfield Almond, Manager of Ilkley BID, expressed her excitement about continuing the partnership:
“We’re thrilled to once again support the Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards. It’s fantastic to see the breadth of family-friendly businesses across the region, and we hope these awards will bring even more visitors to Ilkley and the wider Yorkshire area. We encourage everyone to nominate their favourite places, whether it’s a play centre, café, or family attraction, as the winners will gain significant PR and exposure.”
Erin Ek Rush reflected on the success of last year’s awards:
“The Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards are built around genuine parent recommendations, and last year’s response was incredibly encouraging. Parents didn’t just vote - they took time to share real experiences and explain why certain places matter to their families.
“It was particularly rewarding to see a number of newer businesses recognised, including The Little Calf in Ilkley, who were named Best Family-Friendly Café. Working with Discover Ilkley was a real highlight of the campaign, and their decision to return as a partner for 2026 reflects a shared commitment to supporting family-friendly local businesses and community-led destinations.”
Nominations for the 2026 Yorkshire Tots to Teens Awards will open from Monday 23rd February, with voting beginning shortly thereafter. The winners will be revealed in mid-March.
For more information, visit yorkshiretots.com.
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