Promoting excellence in correctional settings
Award Ceremony
The Annual Award Ceremony is the centrepiece of The Butler Trust’s year. The Ceremony is typically held in London, usually at Buckingham Palace (past venues have also included St James’s Palace, Lambeth Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum), although we have on occasion spread further afield to Holyrood House in Edinburgh and the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.
Presided over by the Trust’s Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the Ceremony is attended by approximately 250 – 300 guests comprising Award Winners, Commendees, their invited guests and representatives from their places of work, along with representatives from the correctional settings throughout the UK as well as Trustees, Patrons, funders and others connected to the Trust.
During the Ceremony, the Awards and Commendations are handed out by The Princess Royal, whilst there is also an opportunity to hear two former Award Winners talking about their work and how it has developed since they won their Awards.
Following the formal part of the Ceremony, a buffet lunch is held over which Award Winners, Commendees and their guests have a chance to meet The Princess Royal in the slightly more informal setting of the State Dining Room! Other guests also have the opportunity to meet with the Award Winners and Commendees to find out more about their work.
The Trust is extremely fortunate to be able to hold its Ceremony in such grand surroundings. It helps to make for an overwhelmingly positive experience for all those attending and the Trust receives several letters and emails each year from people who have been moved and inspired by having been there, including from the Award Winners and Commendees themselves who often describe it as “the best day of their lives!”
