Only Weeks to Go Until the Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2025
A Special Salute to Our Military Children
Jacob Medal winner 2025
Date: 25th April 2025
Location: De Vere Connaught Rooms, London
As April marks the Month of the Military Child, it’s the perfect moment to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary strength, resilience, and spirit of children from Armed Forces families. That’s why this year’s Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2025 is proud to shine a special spotlight on these remarkable young people – and to honour them in a truly unforgettable way.
Jacob’s Medal – brand new for 2025 – has been presented to 31 military children who have been nominated for the Young People’s Award. Each child receiving the medal has shown outstanding courage, kindness, creativity, and resilience in the face of challenges unique to military life – from coping with long parental deployments to navigating new schools and communities time and time again.
This heartfelt initiative was inspired by Jacob Mason, whose father serves in the submarine service. At just 10 years old, Jacob wrote a powerful poem, “This is Normal for Me,” which captured the reality of growing up as a military child. His words moved audiences and earned him second place in the international Never Such Innocence competition, supported by RNRMC and the First Sea Lord. Wanting to celebrate others who share similar experiences, Jacob created Jacob’s Medal – a symbol of pride, recognition, and solidarity for military children.
At the awards evening, Jacob will perform his award-winning poem and personally present medals to each of the finalist children. It promises to be one of the most emotional and inspiring moments of the night.
This awards evening is more than a celebration — it’s a movement. It’s about giving visibility to the invisible work military families do every day. It’s about saying thank you. And it’s about showing families, whether near or far, that they are seen, heard, and deeply valued.
Meet the 2025 Finalists
From inspirational 10-year-old Alfie-Jon Purchase, who’s sent over 3,000 hand-written cards to military families and veterans, to trailblazing podcasters like the Even Keel and Padwives Assemble teams offering real talk and connection for spouses — this year’s finalists are nothing short of extraordinary.
We’ll be celebrating people like:
Julie Hall, who turned personal loss into a lifeline for veterans.
Ashleigh Bailey, building community through music and selfless service.
Abby Wilkinson, balancing family, education, and therapy to support mental health in the military community.
Lyla O’Donovan, a young girl with a fierce spirit who’s raised over £100,000 despite serious health challenges.
Organisations like Reading Force and FAB, which bring comfort, connection, and joy to military families worldwide
Each nominee tells a story of compassion, courage, and community – stories that deserve to be shared, celebrated, and remembered, please take a look at our website for all our amazing finalist.
A Night to Celebrate – and Remember
The Celebrating Forces Families Awards is the only national event dedicated to recognising military families – their service, sacrifice, and strength. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Sian Grzeszczyk Melbourne, BFBS presenter and international defence journalist, alongside new co-host Richard Jones, Britain’s Got Talent winner and the only magician to ever take the title. Richard, a British Army veteran, will be bringing awe-inspiring magic to the stage throughout the night, creating unforgettable moments of wonder and celebration.
This year’s event is proudly headline sponsored by Mott MacDonald, with additional support from organisations deeply committed to our Armed Forces community.
Taking place at the stunning De Vere Connaught Rooms in London, the evening will also feature the launch of our brand-new Online Auction and on-the-night Raffle, with incredible prizes ranging from exclusive sports experiences to original artwork and gift bundles. All funds raised will go directly to military family charities.
To browse and bid, visit:
https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/celebratingforcesfamiliesawards2025
Join us on April 25th as we celebrate our Armed Forces Families who inspire, lead, and thrive – no matter where life takes them. Let’s celebrate those who give so much, ask for so little, and make the Armed Forces community the force it is today. Don’t forget if you are not attending in person you can watch via our livestream, register via the website.
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