The awards, previously known as the Special Constable and Police Support Volunteer Awards, highlight the vital role volunteers play in support of policing, by giving up their free time to make communities safer and enhancing the effectiveness of policing across England and Wales.
They were created by a previous Home Office minister, Lord Ferrers, and were first held in 1993. They have been renamed in memory of Lord Ferrers, who died on 13 November 2012.
Open to special constables and police support volunteers, the awards have been updated in 2014 to recognise achievement in the following categories:
police support volunteer – individual award (open to all police support volunteers)
police support volunteer – team award (open to all police support volunteers)
Ferrers special constabulary – individual award (open to all special constables)
Ferrers special constabulary – team award (open to all special constables)
employer supported policing (open to individuals and teams of volunteers working with a recognised employer supported policing employer, including CSAS accredited employers)
The awards are a key part of the yearly calendar for those giving their time voluntarily in support of the police. At the annual award ceremony, to be held in June at the Houses of Parliament. Successful nominees will be presented with their awards by a Home Office minister.
The 2014 awards launched on 28 January 2014.
The deadline for nominations is 8 April 2014.
To nominate a volunteer please read the guidance and return your completed nomination form to lordferrersawards@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk