Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2025: A Night of Inspiration, Recognition, and Unforgettable Moments
The Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2025 took place on Friday 25th April, at the stunning De Vere Connaught Rooms in London, marking a powerful and emotional evening dedicated to the incredible contributions, resilience, and achievements of UK Armed Forces families.
This year’s ceremony was packed with heartwarming stories and brand-new features that made it a night to remember. Hosted by the brilliant Sian Grzeszczyk Melbourne from BFBS Forces News, returning for her third year, alongside new co-host Richard Jones, the only magician ever to win Britain’s Got Talent. Richard wowed guests throughout the evening with his spellbinding magic, blending illusion with heartfelt tributes to military life, leaving the audience both entertained and deeply moved. Reflecting on the evening, Richard Jones said “It’s so important to highlight the courage and hard work of individuals and groups within the forces community and the CFF Awards have done a fantastic job to ensure their stories have been celebrated”.
A big thank you to our Event Partners BFBS for their continuous support with making the evening so memorable.
And the Winners Are…
Among a room filled with inspirational nominees, the winners of this year’s awards stood out for their extraordinary stories of courage, compassion, and community.
2025 CFF WINNERS
ARMED FORCES ADVOCATE AWARD Sponsored by Parkdean Resorts UK
The Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum
AWAY FROM HOME AWARD sponsored by Amazon:
Kellie Reagan McGinley-Smith
MILITARY FAMILY CHARITY AWARD Sponsored by Pinnacle Group:
FAB (Families' Activity Breaks)
BUSINESS AWARD sponsored by Forces Employment Charity;
Compass Group UK&I
INSPIRATIONAL ADULT FAMILY MEMBER – HEADLINE AWARD sponsored by Mott Macdonald:
Ashleigh Bailey
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AWARD sponsored by Centrica:
Jilly Carrell
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AWARD sponsored by X-Forces Enterprise:
Hannah Quinn - Hannah's Brow Room
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER AWARD sponsored by Wincanton:
Even Keel Podcast
FAMILY VOLUNTEER AWARD sponsored by Amey:
Kim Mendham
YOUNG PEOPLE’S AWARD sponsored by HSBC:
Alfie-Jon Purchase
PUBLIC SERVICE CHAMPION AWARD sponsored by BAE Systems:
Shropshire Council Armed Forces Outreach Project
Read their full stories on our HERE
These individuals and organisations exemplify the strength, creativity, and generosity that exists within the Forces community. Every nominee and finalist deserves the highest praise for the impact they’ve had on others and the legacy they’re creating.
Jacob’s Medal & Poem Performance
A truly special moment from the evening came courtesy of Jacob Mason, a young member of a Royal Navy family whose moving poem “This is Normal for Me” was written when he was just ten years old. The poem, which won second place in the international Never Such Innocence competition, gave voice to the silent sacrifices made by military children every day.
Jacob Mason with his own Jacobs Medal
Jacob took to the stage for a heartfelt live performance of his poem, receiving a standing ovation from the audience. In a powerful new initiative, Jacob’s Medal was launched this year – a personal idea from Jacob himself – and was presented to every child nominated for the Young People’s Award. It was a beautiful and emotional reminder of the bravery and resilience of military children everywhere.
A Celebration Like No Other
From emotional speeches to captivating entertainment, the night brought together military families, serving personnel, charities, and supporters from across the UK. The atmosphere was electric – filled with laughter, tears, and an overwhelming sense of community.
With heartfelt thanks to our headline sponsor, Mott MacDonald, and all our supporting Sponsors and Partners, we’re proud to say the evening was not only a celebration but a vital show of support for those who support our Armed Forces. “We had an amazing night as headline sponsor of the Awards - an opportunity to walk the walk and demonstrate our commitment to the whole military community. All the stories shared were really inspiring, and it was great to support an event that recognises the challenges that military families deal with and aligns with our culture of caring” Julia Barr, Commercial Manager, Mott MacDonald.
Together, through the auction, raffle, and generous donations, we raised over £2,000 – funds that will directly benefit military family charities working tirelessly behind the scenes.
Until Next Year…
The Celebrating Forces Families Awards continues to grow year on year – and 2025 proved once again that behind every uniform is a family with a story worth celebrating.
We’re also thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new Celebrating Forces Families podcast dedicated to sharing the remarkable stories behind our award winners. While our awards evening offers a powerful glimpse into the lives of military families, the podcast will provide a platform to explore each story in greater depth.
With one episode per award winner, the series will highlight their achievements, challenges, and the personal impact of being recognised. These candid conversations will allow listeners to connect more intimately with the families who so often go unseen, yet serve as the backbone of our Armed Forces community. Episodes will be available soon on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.
As we look ahead to the future of Celebrating Forces Families, we’re excited to continue growing this important initiative — and we’re actively welcoming sponsorship opportunities for 2026. Whether you’re a business, organisation, or individual passionate about supporting Armed Forces families, there are a variety of ways to get involved and make a lasting impact.
Your sponsorship helps us not only deliver an unforgettable awards evening, but also expand our year-round efforts, including storytelling through our new podcast, community engagement, and wider recognition of the Armed Forces family network. To find out more about sponsorship packages and how to support next year’s event, please get in touch via: https://www.celebratingforcesfamilies.co.uk/sponsor2026
To all the finalists, winners, supporters, and volunteers: thank you. You are the heart of this community.
Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2025 – Honouring the strength behind the service.