Every year, the awards – which are handed out at our annual conference – shine a light on special MA members and branches from around England and Wales. From standout Magistrates in the Community presenters and inspiring branch leaders, to tireless recruiters of new members and retired members who are still making a difference, the award winners are always an inspiring bunch, and this year’s eleven winners are no exception.
In this blog, you can see who has won what award, and read about how they achieved their success:
1. Magistrates in the Community education Award
This award celebrates the branch that has reached the greatest number of schools in proportion to its size.
Winner: Northamptonshire branch
Northamptonshire branch has excelled this year, delivering sessions to schools across the county and reaching almost 2,800 young people. Their dedication to education and awareness about the magistracy is an outstanding achievement.
2. Magistrates in the Community Community Award
This award recognises the branch that has reached the most community groups relative to its size.
Winner: Derbyshire branch
Derbyshire branch takes the honour this year, having visited a wide variety of community organisations and reached nearly 300 people. Their commitment to outreach exemplifies the purpose of the Magistrates in the Community initiative.
3. Individual recruiter of the year
This award recognises individuals who have gone above and beyond to recruit new members.
Winner: Mark Quartermain, Surrey branch
Mark has been instrumental in growing Surrey branch’s membership this year — with six new members citing him personally as the reason they joined.
Across the wider network, 105 new members joined through individual recruitment efforts, but Mark’s consistent advocacy and passion make him stand out. His efforts embody the spirit of peer-to-peer encouragement that strengthens our community.
4. Inclusion and social value Award
This award celebrates individuals who champion inclusion and social value through their outreach.
Winner: Sarah Sawyerr, South and South East London branch
Sarah Sawyerr has delivered over a dozen workshops in Inner London schools, reaching more than 1,300 pupils – many from communities with high deprivation, high SEND needs, or underrepresentation.
Her interactive sessions use real-life scenarios and Q&As to help young people understand the justice system. Feedback from schools highlights how deeply pupils engaged with her sessions and how much they learned about consequences and fairness.
Sarah’s leadership has encouraged other magistrates to participate and gain confidence as presenters, ensuring sustainability of the MIC programme. Her clarity, empathy and enthusiasm have built lasting relationships with schools and communities, making her an outstanding ambassador for inclusion and the magistracy.
5. Employer Award
The Employer Award recognises organisations that actively support magistrate employees.
Winner: Imperial College London (accepted by Rob Sassoon and Savannah Hersov Sassoon)
This year’s winner, Imperial College London, offers up to 10 days of paid leave each year for magistrate duties and fosters a culture that values civic engagement and professional development. With five serving magistrates and one retired, all have spoken of the university’s outstanding support.
From senior leadership to line managers, Imperial’s ethos of “Science for Humanity” extends to community service. The HR Director has championed public service roles, recognising the mutual benefits for staff and the institution. Magistrate employees, including Rob, Savannah, Liz, Benita and Trisha, all shared stories of active flexibility, understanding, and encouragement, including 10 days’ paid leave every year to sit as a magistrate. Imperial stands out for championing public service and empowering magistrates to thrive both in court and in their professional lives.
Employing a magistrate benefits both the magistrate and their employer. As Rob and Savannah told us: “Being magistrates has made us better employees, and the skills that we bring from our workplaces make us better magistrates.” Rob and Savannah enjoy working at Imperial and both cited the university’s support of the magistrates who they employ as being invaluable.
6. Retired member of the year
This award celebrates retired magistrates who continue to make a significant contribution to their branch.
Winner: Diane Treherne, Shropshire branch
Diane Treherne, who joined the magistracy in 2005, remains a pillar of the Shropshire branch since retiring. She has spent the last eight years on the branch executive, singlehandedly organising talks, training sessions and visits.
Her efforts have included visits to the Dana Prison experience, organised walks, and online talks on topics from wildlife crime and drug gangs to neurodiversity in prison and support for survivors of sexual abuse. She’s also coordinated visits to family contact centres and women’s refuges.
Her energy and dedication have kept retired members engaged and connected, enriching the branch with her time, commitment, and enthusiasm.
Commendation – David Warner, Birmingham branch
7. Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award honours exceptional service and leadership within the Magistrates’ Association.
Winner: Paul Brearley, Greater Manchester branch
Paul Brearley has chaired the Greater Manchester branch for nine years, while also serving as Bench Chair for one of the largest benches in England and Wales. Under his leadership, the branch has transformed from informal beginnings into a strong, accountable, and inclusive organisation.
Paul has consistently secured funding for initiatives such as the Virtual Reality Knives programme, enabling children from deprived areas to attend mock trials. He has also forged partnerships that give members unique opportunities to visit prisons, police units, and other justice settings.
His connections as Deputy Lieutenant helped the branch earn the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024. Paul’s warmth, inclusivity, and dedication have left a lasting legacy for the Greater Manchester branch.
8. Magistrates in the Community presenter of the year
The Magistrates in the Community (MIC) presenter of the year Award recognises an individual who has shown outstanding dedication to promoting the work of magistrates in the community.
Winner: Helen Thompson, Shropshire branch
This year’s winner, Helen Thompson, has been a magistrate for 32 years and has played a leading role in MIC presentations throughout that time. She has coordinated MIC activities for the past eight years and helped to deliver the hugely successful Justice in a Day programme, giving 14-year-olds insight into the justice system. Helen and her team raised over £4,000 from local businesses to make this project possible, and their efforts were recognised with the Mayor of Shrewsbury’s Gold Award for Youth Wellbeing.
Helen also led Crucial Crew in 2019, reaching over 2,300 Year 6 children in a three-week period. Even when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of events, she ensured the work continued by sending materials directly to schools. She has expanded MIC presentations beyond schools, reaching Women’s Institutes, Scouts, the U3A and other community groups.
Through her energy and commitment, Helen has inspired a small branch and bench to achieve extraordinary outreach, fulfilling one of the founding aims of the MA – to promote understanding of the law and justice system.
9. Magistrates in the Community, Community Impact Award
This award celebrates a project that has made a real difference in the community.
Winner: Rachel Medcalf, Greater Manchester branch
This year’s winner, Rachel Medcalf (below) and the Greater Manchester MIC team, developed the Youth Knife Crime Reduction Project – a multi-module educational programme helping young people understand the dangers of carrying knives.
Delivered across 62 schools in nine of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, the project reached 1,806 children last year. It includes interactive workshops developed with Greater Manchester Police, a mock trial script adapted from a real youth case, and a Year 6 mock trial competition that expanded this year to reach 340 primary pupils.
The project involves multiple partners including Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Rescue, British Transport Police, and Crimestoppers, and has even rolled out a Virtual Reality ‘Knives’ programme in deprived schools. Their combined work earned the Greater Manchester branch the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 — the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups — in recognition of their knife-crime prevention work.
Commendation – North and West Yorkshire branch
10. Branch of the year
This award celebrates branches that deliver outstanding local service and engagement.
Winner: Berkshire branch
The Berkshire branch, led by Martin Savage (above), has shown continuous improvement and dedication. With an active executive committee and strong communication – including quarterly bulletins, courthouse noticeboards, and member surveys – Berkshire has become a model of engagement.
The branch has prioritised training, hosting events on domestic abuse, family court issues, and modern slavery. Their MIC team gave 49 presentations to 1,750 people and works closely with police recruits and diverse community groups.
They also maintain strong relationships with local MPs, with several visiting Reading Magistrates’ Court. Berkshire branch exemplifies what it means to be active, inclusive, and forward-thinking – a real credit to the MA.
11. John Taylor Branch Officer of the Year
This award honours exceptional leadership and commitment within a branch.
Winner: Janet Brimley – Lancashire branch
Janet Brimley, Chair of her branch since 2018, has demonstrated outstanding leadership, vision, and dedication. Before becoming Chair, she served as MIC Coordinator, holding both roles simultaneously for six years.
Under her leadership, the branch delivered impactful events — including a Mental Health awareness day, a Probation in Practice session with former offenders, and a Modern Slavery awareness event with survivors’ voices. She also introduced the branch’s first ever family-specific event in 2024.
Janet’s creativity and persistence have energised both branch activities and community outreach. Her leadership of the MIC programme has been remarkable — under her coordination, two local presenters went on to win national MIC awards.
She is described as dependable, forward-thinking, and deeply committed — a true role model and worthy recipient of this year’s award.
Commendation – Mark Quartermain, Surrey branch
