Purpose
The Wartime Maritime Memorial Association exists to preserve, share and pass on the stories of wartime maritime service — not only through the vessels themselves, but through the people, teams and organisations who care for them.
The WMMA Recognition Awards celebrate exceptional contribution across custodianship, restoration, volunteering, research, education and community engagement. Awards are not limited to a single recipient and may be presented to multiple individuals, teams or organisations within the same category where merit is demonstrated.
Award categories
Each category recognises a distinct aspect of wartime maritime stewardship. Members can choose any of the categories below when they submit a recommendation.
Custodian of the Year
This award recognises one or more individuals or teams whose stewardship of a wartime vessel has been exemplary. It celebrates sustained responsibility for conservation, maintenance, restoration oversight and operational care, including long-term commitment to safeguarding historic fabric and enabling responsible public access.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Restoration Recognition Award
This award honours outstanding restoration or conservation work on wartime maritime vessels or associated artefacts. It may be presented to individuals, teams or organisations responsible for high-quality, historically sensitive restoration, repair or conservation, whether through a major project or a series of smaller interventions that together protect and extend a vessel’s life.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Outstanding Volunteer Award
This award celebrates sustained and meaningful volunteer contribution that has materially advanced the Association’s mission. It may recognise practical restoration work, administrative support, research, fundraising, event delivery, mentoring or community engagement, where commitment and reliability have been demonstrated over time.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Heritage Education Champion
This award recognises individuals, volunteers, educators or partner organisations that have delivered impactful heritage education. This may include schools engagement, youth programmes, talks, learning resources, skills development or other initiatives that connect people of all ages with wartime maritime history.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Research and Documentation Excellence
This award acknowledges excellence in archival research, documentation and interpretation that strengthens understanding of wartime maritime service. It may recognise publications, cataloguing, oral history, conservation records, digital storytelling or other evidence-based work that brings previously overlooked material into the public domain.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Community Impact Award
This award is presented to local groups, flotillas or community teams whose activities have significantly strengthened public engagement with maritime heritage. It recognises initiatives that broaden participation, encourage remembrance, improve accessibility and foster lasting community connection.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Young Maritime Ambassador
Aimed at younger volunteers or students within the published age range, this award recognises leadership, enthusiasm and developing expertise in maritime heritage. It celebrates young people who actively contribute to preservation, volunteering, education or interpretation, and who inspire others to engage with wartime maritime history.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Innovative Interpretation Award
This award rewards creative and effective approaches to interpreting wartime maritime heritage. It may recognise digital archives, interactive tools, exhibitions, multimedia content or immersive experiences that present history accurately while engaging new and diverse audiences.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Partnership Award
This award honours external organisations that have provided significant and positive support to the Association and its custodians. It recognises collaboration through professional expertise, funding, facilities, in-kind assistance or advocacy that has materially enabled restoration, education, access or remembrance.
Nominations in this category this year:
0
Award cycle and governance
The WMMA Recognition Awards are normally presented once each year in November, following the close of the main boating and operational season. This timing allows contributions made during the year to be assessed fairly and in the round.
In exceptional circumstances, the Directorship of the WMMA C.I.C. may approve awards outside the usual annual cycle where there is a clear and compelling reason to do so.
Nominations and review
Awards may be proposed by members of the Association via the Members’ section of the WMMA website. Nominations should clearly describe the contribution being recognised and provide supporting evidence where available.
All nominations are submitted to the Directorship of the WMMA C.I.C. for consideration. Decisions may be taken directly by the Directorship or delegated to a committee established for that purpose, operating under terms set by the Directorship.
The WMMA may make multiple awards within a category in any given year, or make no award, depending on the strength and suitability of nominations received. Awards are granted at the discretion of the WMMA C.I.C. as formal recognition of contribution, service and achievement in support of wartime maritime heritage.
Ready to recommend someone?
Members can open the “Share a recommendation” form from their dashboard to highlight an individual, crew, group or partner organisation. Directors are notified automatically and track the decision stage.