Lord Ferrers Awards: last chance to nominate volunteers

28 August 2025

Nominations for the 2025 Lord Ferrers Awards closes tomorrow and Federation members are being encouraged to put forward an outstanding police volunteer for recognition.

The Lord Ferrers Awards have been held annually since 1993 to celebrate exceptional service from the likes of Specials, police support volunteers and volunteer police cadets.

The criteria set by the Home Office – which organises the awards – specifies that a high-quality piece of work, a strong measurable impact, or an inspiring contribution to policing should be the basis of a nomination.

Once nominations are received, they will be shortlisted before a panel of judges selects a winner and a runner-up across 11 individual and team categories, to 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 window for nominations will close on Friday 29 August, with shortlisting to begin in September.

You can complete a nomination form on the Home Office website, where there is also further information and guidance before you submit your choice.

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