Publications
Blog: Awards of Excellence
12 July 2024
It's fair to say most of us didn't join policing for the plaudits, but recognition for a job well done goes a long way. Most of us say 'it's all in a day's work' about scenarios other people face rarely, if ever, in their lives. Even if we don't feel we personally deserve praise, most of us could immediately point to a colleague who regularly goes above and beyond, not just with the actions they do at work but also in their personal lives.
Then there's the public perception of the work we do. While we're familiar faces to our local communities, much of what we do goes unrecognised by the wider public. CNC isn't perhaps as well known and understood as most other forces. There aren't that many opportunities to highlight your work and shine a light on the good officers of the CNC.
Lastly, we believe that part of our role as your representatives is to champion you and the work you do. With all that in mind, we have decided to introduce Excellence Awards to our annual conference.
Our conference itself is a modest affair, mostly about building the knowledge and skills of our volunteer reps, so we're starting small with our awards. If they prove popular, we will look to build on them in future years.
Why are we telling you this?
The CNC recognises certain actions via commendations. We want to broaden the recognition as we think the most meaningful awards are those nominated by colleagues. This was echoed in the feedback from a small focus group we held recently to consider the types of awards we should create.
So, this November at our biannual conference, we will be presenting an Inspiration Award, an Unsung Hero Award, and a CEO's Award. The latter will be at the discretion of our CEO, Gary Thwaite, but the two other categories are open to you to nominate deserving colleagues.
Who will you nominate?
This award honours the commitment and enthusiasm of a colleague who goes above and beyond in supporting their communities and/or those they work with.
What we're looking for includes:
- Examples of colleagues whose kindness encourages those around them
- Evidence of tenacity and determination to overcome a significant challenge
- Someone who motivates and leads others - despite perhaps not being in a leadership role
Unsung Hero Award
Recognising those who quietly make a big impact, the Unsung Hero Award celebrates colleagues whose contributions deserve to be in the spotlight, despite them suggesting they were 'just doing their bit'.
Examples of what we're looking for include:
- Someone whose commitment to excellence is unrivalled
- Evidence of having a positive impact beyond their role or rank
- Examples of colleagues who have achieved something remarkable at or outside of work
The nomination process
The nomination period is now open and will remain so until Tuesday 6 August. Nominations should be made via this simple form.
After the closing date a panel comprising the CNPF Exec team and two independent panellists will meet to review all of the nominations and choose their winners.
Short films will be made about the winners, which they and a wider audience will watch during the awards evening in November. These will then be shared with colleagues afterwards.
So, who deserves recognition for how they have inspired not just you and your colleagues, but the wider community? That one person who quietly gets on with making a difference, without seeking praise?
Make your nominations here today.
Darren Adams
Vice Chair of CNP Federation