British Citizen Award

At ACCT UK, we are passionate about recognising those who go above and beyond. That’s why we’re encouraging ACF nominations for The British Citizen Award (BCA). Whether individual cadets, detachments, or adult volunteers, we see your dedication. We notice you making a real difference in your communities. Recognition through the BCA shines a light on your remarkable achievements and inspires others.

Nominating someone is simple and free. Successful nominees will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony at the Palace of Westminster. By putting forward deserving candidates, we ensure that your outstanding contributions are celebrated.

The British Citizen Award is open to UK citizens. It recognises exceptional endeavour in business, healthcare, the arts, the community or education.

There are two presentation ceremonies per year for adults in January and July, which take place at the Palace of Westminster, and one presentation in October for young people and youth groups. Any individual can be nominated for a British Citizen Award, provided that they have had a meaningful impact on those around them. Nominees come from all corners of the UK, all cultural backgrounds, and from all sectors of the community. The defining common aspect amongst nominees is that they have made life better for those around them. Those who receive a BCA will be encouraged to use the post-nominal after their name. This enables them to promote their achievement in perpetuity.

To be considered, you will need to fill in our Excellence Award nomination form (download here) and return it to awards@acctuk.org. We will then use this to make our nominations online.

Please make your nomination as early as possible to enable us to support you and maximise your chance of success.

January 2026 adult presentations – by 7 October 2025

July 2026 adult presentations – by 7 April 2026

October 2026 youth presentations – by 7 August 2026

Recognises the individual endeavours of young people who are positively impacting their communities, helping charities or undertaking exceptional activities in support of others.  Across the nation, people are showing kindness and caring to others, but often without the recognition it deserves. The British Citizen Youth Award understands that there is no age limit to selfless acts of kindness. That’s why they have created BCyA Medal of Honour for those aged under 18. Young people are the key to our future for making our society and communities a better place to live. 

Use the Excellence Award nomination form (download here) and return the completed form to awards@acctuk.org.  It will also be considered for the ACCT UK Excellence Award and the President’s Certificate.

The British Citizen Youth Honours (BCyA) highlight the incredible work young individuals have been doing throughout Britain. Individuals who are giving back to their communities and making a positive difference to people’s lives. A new category has been introduced. One that recognises the contribution made by groups of children who have gone above and beyond for their community and society. These children may be from a community youth club, a classroom or school year, or who attend youth organisations such as the Brownies, Girl Guides, Scouts or any of the other independent youth groups. The prize includes a donation to the group, an invitation for up to 8 members to attend the ceremony in October 2025, a bespoke mounted medal and a certificate.

In your nomination, please say why this group deserves to be recognised with The Dame Mary Perkins British Citizen Group Medal (approx.500 words). Please provide information about the group’s achievements in the community. Include their age range and the people who benefit from the group’s work.  Use the Excellence Award nomination form (download here) and return the completed form to awards@acctuk.org.  It will also be considered for the ACCT UK Excellence Award and the President’s Certificate.

There are three specific categories of particular relevance to adult volunteers.  The Services to the Community category specifically highlights fundraising activity.  Categories used for adult volunteers are also helpful in informing the cadet award. 

For each of these categories, use the Excellence Award nomination form (download here) and return the completed form to awards@acctuk.org.  It will also be considered for the ACCT UK Excellence Award and the President’s Certificate.

This classification is typically for someone that is a pillar of their local community… Someone that local residents relate to, rely upon, or seek advice from. Candidates in this category may be long-serving. They may be helping others whilst suffering adversity themselves. Or they may just brighten the lives of those they come into contact with. Equally, they may have lobbied for funding for community facilities, driven policy to determine improvement in the locality, or raised funds for community projects. They could be people who look out for neighbours, who care for others, volunteer drivers or local people who do worthwhile work benefiting others in their community. The British Citizen Award recognises people who are doing exceptional things for the good of their community… Those who often remain behind the scenes and who are not normally recognised.

This classification is typically for an individual who has been devoted to education in any or all of its forms.

The individual may have promoted education, funded education, created new innovative ways of learning or been instrumental in maintaining standards, building educational facilities or lobbying for accessibility, diversity or equality in education. This classification is open to any individual working at any level of the educational system, from both the private and public sectors. Candidates can be from mainstream or specialist education, including special needs, vocational education, apprenticeships, training and development, voluntary, home schooling, tutoring and all other areas. This classification is also suitable for those involved in the educational supply chain and those working in the education system in a non-teaching function. The British Citizen Award recognises outstanding individuals who are making a huge difference to the pupils under their care.

This classification is typically for an individual who has promoted healthcare in any or all of its forms. They may have devoted time, energy or effort into helping the community retain or improve its health awareness. They may have lobbied to build new facilities or created innovative approaches to healthcare education. It includes any individual working in the healthcare sector (private and public), from porters to physicians and carers to caterers. Individuals who save lives, change lives and prolong lives are suitable for this classification. People who brighten the days of those who are unwell or unable to care for themselves deserve praise and recognition. Nominations are accepted for any individual who has a role in the healthcare sector, whether employed or voluntary and for those in the healthcare supply chain, including manufacturing, pharmaceutical and the services sector.

This classification is typically for an individual who has extensively contributed to fundraising, charitable giving or devoted time and energy on a voluntary basis to charity. They may have organised charitable events, lobbied others to promote good causes or championed new ways of developing support for charities. This classification is open to individuals who have donated time and/or money to good causes through a prolonged and dedicated approach. It is open to any individual who has devoted their time to helping others through their charitable volunteering or donation. This is the perfect recognition platform for unsung heroes who are instrumental in helping organised charities to help others. This category extends across all charities, including children’s, overseas, health, animal welfare, rehabilitation, hunger, welfare and all others.

This classification is typically for an individual who supports, promotes, develops or volunteers in recreation, leisure and sports activities and extends its reach across the community. Their commitment to sport and recreation may benefit the improved health and well-being of individuals. It may contribute to their empowerment and promote the development of inclusive and cohesive communities. Recreation, leisure and sports activities may involve individuals, teams, or community groups. Any individual who is helping communities improve their health through recreational activity can be nominated. Whether they are coaching a team, providing anti-isolation activities, raising funds through sponsorship of events or any other innovative method to benefit the community, a specialist group of charity.