The most important arts and media stories of the week

Sadly, socialising doesn't come naturally to a lot of young people, especially me, who are only just getting to grips with the real world.

Shannon has just joined the Youth Network as an Activist, and is currently working on her Gold Arts Award with Chichester Festival Theatre.

Freya Averley, lives in Newcastle. She is now 16 - she did her Gold Arts Award while 15 - and has been training circus intensively for nearly 4 years with Five Ring Circus at Circus Central in Newcastle.

Congratulations to the winners of our competition My Word is Gold.

It's not me, it's you. I want more from this relationship, I want to start seeing women, and diversity, and I think I should be treated with respect.

Georgie is brand new to the Arts Award Youth Network, and has already completed her Bronze and Gold awards.

Carli Green has joined the Arts Award Youth Network as an Arts Award Activist, and is currently completing his Gold at Sixth Sense Theatre Company.

Your help-at-hand, mentor and fixer. Artist, teacher or youth worker. Use them – they want to help you make your Arts Award fly, and they'll have great experience to share.

Cosmetic company Lush's new adverts have been labelled pornographic and banned in Australia, but body positive campaigns like this are exactly what we need.

I'm taking a slightly new slant this month. Partly because I've been terrible over the summer and ashamedly got out of the habit of my regular blogging. But I hope that this blog becomes a useful resource for our exciting new Gold Hub - a dedicated collection of resources and support on Voice to help you complete your Gold Arts Award - so I'm going to improve the regularity.

The most important arts and media stories of the week