What is the Lord Mayor's Medal, who can make a nomination, what you need to include in your nomination and how to nominate.
Nominations are now open
The deadline for nominations is Friday 30 January 2026. You can make your nomination using our form below.
What the Lord Mayor's Medal is
The Lord Mayor's Medal recognises outstanding and innovative unpaid service and support provided to others, especially selfless service to a voluntary body or to our community, or which brings distinction and quality to Bristol life.
The achievement of the nominees can be in one area or in different areas. We especially want to know what came about because of the nominee or nominees.
Who can make a nomination
Anyone can make a nomination, as long as they're not a relative or partner of the nominee or nominees.
What you need to include in your nomination
In your nomination, you need to include:
- your submission and statement
- 2 supportive statements from two Bristol citizens
- 1 supportive statement from a Bristol City councillor
- a statement, no longer than 500 words, about why you think the nominee or nominees deserve a Lord Mayor's Medal
A nomination submitted by a councillor must be accompanied by a supporting statement from another councillor.
In your statement, you need to tell us:
- what your nominee or nominees have achieved
- what makes them stand out against others
- if the achievement is in one area or in a number of different areas
- what came about because of the nominee or nominees.
Keep your recommendation factual: focus on achievements, dates, facts and figures that we can verify.
We ask you not to discuss the nomination with the nominee.
Make your nomination
Nominate someone for a Lord Mayor's medal
Formal notice
All nominations must be submitted solely through the official online form on this page. Nominators are responsible for ensuring that all sections and required documents are fully completed before submission.
Incomplete nominations will not be accepted, and the Lord Mayor's Office will not request or follow up on missing information or documentation.
Judging the Lord Mayor's medal
Judging panel and criteria
Nominations are judged by a panel of Bristol city councillors and the Lord Mayor.
The judges use the following criteria:
- service of the nominee and what is unique, distinctive, or special about it
- how the nominee has enhanced the quality of life for the people and city of Bristol
The decision of the judging panel is final.
Awarding the Lord Mayor's medal
Around 12 to 15 medals are awarded. This is a competitive process and not all nominations submitted will be successful.
The Lord Mayor's Medal is awarded on the basis that the individual in receipt is of good character.
In the case of multiple nominations for an individual relating to one organisation/group/cause, the judging panel may decide to award one medal; this is at their discretion.
In the event that the conduct of someone who is awarded a medal is considered to bring the council into disrepute, then the council may at its sole discretion decide to rescind the award. This is applicable both to prior and future conduct.