It's that time of year again when the search is on for the next round of Queen's Young Leaders for 2017. Following on from the success for Malta with two winners for 2016, the organisers said that they would very much like to see further entries from Gozo and Malta.

The Queen's Young Leaders is a youth programme running from 2014 to 2018 to recognise 60 exceptional young people from around the Commonwealth each year – one for every year that The Queen had served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

The Awards are open to anyone in Gozo and Malta aged between 18-29 years, who is making a remarkable difference in their communities.

Back in June, two young women from Malta were named as Queen's Young Leaders winners for 2016, for the difference they are making in their community.

Along with 58 other young people from all over the Commonwealth, the Maltese winners, Annabelle Xerri and Sara Ezabe Malliue came over to the UK for a Residential Week as part of the Queen's Young Leaders programme.

Annabelle Xerri is a spokesperson for the Deaf community in her country. She is a board member of the Deaf People Association Malta and works with the authorities to ensure that deaf people have equal opportunities to enable them to live independently.

Annabelle has been deaf since the age of six and writes about her personal experiences in the media and on social media. She gives motivational talks to students in schools and meets with local families to offer them advice and support. She uses Maltese Sign Language and lip reading to attend conferences where she represents the Deaf community.

If you or someone you know is doing exceptional work in their community apply or nominate them at www.queensyoungleaders.com.

Information about the The Queen's Young Leaders Programme

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and The Royal Commonwealth Society, has established The Queen's Young Leaders Programme in honour of Her Majesty The Queen's 60 years of service to the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

Guided by the values of the Commonwealth Charter, the goal of the Programme is to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth.

Each year from 2014 to 2018, 60 exceptional young people will be selected to receive a Queen's Young Leaders Award and become 'Queen's Young Leaders' – one for every year that The Queen had served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

This year's Award winners are aged between 18 and 29 and are working on raising awareness for a variety of different issues including: education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.

As part of the Award, winners will receive bespoke mentoring and online learning provided by the University of Cambridge. Award winners will attend a week-long residential programme in the UK in June, when they will receive their Award at Buckingham Palace from Her Majesty The Queen.

Criteria to win an award:

** Nominees will have proven experience of working to improve their communities locally, regionally or at a national level and will show evidence of their achievements

** Nominees will be aged between 18 and 29 for the year of the Award and be citizens of a Commonwealth country

** Nominees will demonstrate evidence of their leadership qualities

** Priority will be given to individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve their goals

** All nominees will need to be supported by a suitable referee.

Photos: Annabelle receiving her Award from the Queen Photo by BCA – Young Leaders with Her Majesty The Queen Photo by Beaumont Photography – Young Leaders outside 10 Downing Street Photo by Jack Lawson – The Queen's Young Leaders visit AMV Photo by Jack Lawson

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