2025 Lord Ferrers Awards: Nominate an outstanding police volunteer

21 August 2025

The nomination window for the 2025 Lord Ferrers Awards is currently open with Federation members encouraged to put forward an exceptional voluntary colleague for acknowledgement.

Since 1993, the prestigious Lord Ferrers Awards has been the annual celebration for outstanding voluntary service to policing, bringing together the Special Constabulary, police support volunteers, voluntary police cadets and others who dedicate their time to the profession for free.

Criteria for nominations are set out by organisers at the Home Office and specify a high-quality piece of work, a strong measurable impact, or an inspiring contribution to policing.

After these nominations are shortlisted, a panel of judges will select winners and runners-up from 11 individual and team categories, which will then be announced at an awards ceremony in November.

This year’s categories are as follows:

• Ferrers Special Constabulary – Individual Award: Open to individual Special Constables who have demonstrated a sustained and significant contribution to policing and/or their communities. 

• Ferrers Special Constabulary – Team Award: Open to teams of Special Constables who have demonstrated a sustained and significant contribution to policing and/or their communities. 

• Police Support Volunteer – Individual Award: Open to individual Police Support Volunteers who have demonstrated a significant and sustained contribution to policing and/or their communities.

• Police Support Volunteer – Team Award: Open to teams of Police Support Volunteers who have worked together to make a significant and sustained contribution to policing and/or their communities. 

• Volunteer Police Cadet – Individual Award: Open to individual Volunteer Police Cadets who have demonstrated a significant and sustained contribution to youth led social action in support of policing and/or their communities.

• Volunteer Police Cadet – Team Award: Open to teams of Volunteer Police Cadets who have worked together to make a significant and sustained contribution to youth led social action in support of policing and/or their communities. 

• Employer Supported Policing Award: Open to organisations who support policing through local or national initiatives as well as supporting employees who volunteer within policing. 

• Leadership Award: Open to individual Special Constables, Police Support Volunteers and Volunteer Police Cadet Leaders who have demonstrated a significant and sustained contribution to leadership.

• Innovation Award – Individual or Team: Open to Special Constables, Police Support Volunteers, Volunteer Police Cadets or any other volunteer involved in policing. The award recognises innovative contributions volunteers have made in support of policing and/or their communities.

• Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) Volunteer – Individual or Team: Open to OPCC volunteers who have demonstrated a significant and sustained contribution to policing and/or their communities.

• Volunteering in Partnership Award – Individual or Team: Open to Special Constables, Police Support Volunteers, Volunteer Police Cadets or any other volunteer involved in neighbourhood policing. This award recognises volunteers who have demonstrated a significant and sustained contribution to neighbourhood policing for the benefit of their communities.

The deadline for nominations is on Friday 29 August, before shortlisting commences in the following weeks of September.

You can complete an application form on the Home Office website and access further information and guidance before you submit your choice.