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Honoria

Medal

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Awarded for meritorious civil or military service, typically at a local or community level.

BEM
Ribbon of the British Empire Medal
Ribbon · Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Insignia of the British Empire Medal
Insignia · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Awarded over time

British Empire Medal (BEM) appointments by year.

Honoriahonoria.co.uk

Themes

Most common themes among British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients, across all years.

Community & Voluntary Service - 3996Children, Young People & Families - 992Education - 616Health & Social Care - 698Arts & Culture - 547Sport & Recreation - 459Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - 330Policing & Emergency Services - 208Government & Public Service - 157Defence & Armed Forces - 176Environment & Agriculture - 157Business & Economy - 141Faith & Belief - 104Science, Engineering & Technology - 93International & Diplomatic - 113349community - 3349Charitable Fundraising - 80Charitable service - 78Voluntary service - 52Fundraising - 24community during Covid-19 - 24Community Cohesion - 22communities - 19Jewish Community - 18Volunteering - 13Community Relations - 12Community Safety - 12Voluntary Sector - 9Community Sport - 9to Charity - 6Sikh community - 6Veteran Community - 6Community Engagement - 5Asian community - 5ex-Service community - 5Community Development - 4Charitable Causes - 4voluntary service to the community - 3voluntary service to Young People - 3Rural Community - 3Muslim community - 3Chinese community - 3Voluntary Work - 3LGBT community - 3Voluntary - 2charitable services - 2Deaf Community - 2Charitable Sector - 1Minority Ethnic Communities - 1Armed Forces Community - 1Disadvantaged Communities - 1469Young People - 469Children - 132Older People - 55their Families - 54Families - 48Foster Care - 31Early Years Education - 17Early Years - 17Elderly People - 11Children with Special Educational Needs - 9Fostering - 8Disadvantaged Young People - 8Save the Children - 8Vulnerable Children - 7Young People with Special Educational Needs - 6Children with Disabilities - 6Bereaved Families - 5Elderly - 5Vulnerable Young People - 4Youth Sport - 4Adoption - 3voluntary service to Young People - 3Disabled Children - 3Vulnerable Families - 3Youth Development - 3Terminally Ill Children - 3Children's Social Care - 2Disadvantaged Children - 2to Young People - 2Safeguarding - 2Young People with Disabilities - 2Safeguarding Children - 2Youth Work - 2Young People with Autism - 1Children's Hearings System - 1Seriously Ill Children - 1Young People with Special Needs - 1291Education - 291Holocaust Education - 69Higher Education - 57People with Learning Disabilities - 21Further Education - 20Early Years Education - 17Children with Special Educational Needs - 9Young People with Special Educational Needs - 6Adult Education - 6Music Education - 5Adult Learning - 4Adults with Learning Disabilities - 4Apprenticeships - 3Medical Education - 3Students - 3Schools - 3Financial Education - 3Special Educational Needs - 2STEM Education - 2Physical Education - 2People with Special Educational Needs - 2to Education - 1Dental Education - 1Special Needs Education - 1Special Education - 1Primary Education - 1Genocide Education - 1Pre-School Education - 1Education during Covid-19 - 1NHS - 61Nursing - 49Healthcare - 40Mental Health - 39Health - 38NHS during Covid-19 - 33Foster Care - 31Social Care - 20Wellbeing - 16Cancer Patients - 16St John Ambulance - 14Social Care during Covid-19 - 12Cancer Research - 11People with Cancer - 10Nursing during Covid-19 - 10Hospitality - 9Palliative Care - 8Midwifery - 7their Carers - 7Mental Health Awareness - 7NHS during the Covid-19 Response - 7End of Life Care - 5Dentistry - 4Care - 4Carers - 4Public Health - 3Medicine - 3Hospitality Industry - 3Medical Education - 3Patient Care - 3Cancer Care - 3Medical Research - 2Primary Care - 2Children's Social Care - 2Women's Health - 2Animal Health - 1Dementia Care - 1Public Health during Covid-19 - 1168Music - 168Heritage - 68Arts - 63Dance - 30Culture - 18Theatre - 12Drama - 11Performing Arts - 9Cultural Heritage - 7Choral Music - 7Church Music - 6Literature - 5Broadcasting - 5Music Education - 5Railway Heritage - 5Museums - 4Heritage Crafts - 4Musical Theatre - 4Crafts - 4Community Music - 3Martial Arts - 3Film - 2Music Industry - 2Aviation Heritage - 2Fashion - 1Design - 1Fashion Industry - 1Visual Arts - 1Military Heritage - 1Music Therapy - 1to Heritage - 1Craft - 1Sport - 105Cricket - 31Football - 25Athletics - 23Association Football - 22Swimming - 21Rugby - 20Disability Sport - 13Boxing - 12Rowing - 11Cycling - 9Tennis - 9Community Sport - 9Golf - 7Table Tennis - 6Grassroots Football - 5Rugby Union - 4Netball - 4Youth Sport - 4Youth Football - 4Rugby Union Football - 3Amateur Boxing - 3Equestrian Sport - 3Disability Sports - 2Special Olympics - 2Rugby League Football - 1Rugby League - 1Women's Football - 1Grassroots Sport - 1Diversity - 51People with Disabilities - 50Inclusion - 34People with Learning Disabilities - 21Disabled People - 18Disabilities - 15Equality - 13Women - 13Disability Sport - 13Disabled - 7Children with Disabilities - 6Women's Institute - 6Riding for the Disabled - 6Gender Equality - 4Disability Awareness - 4Social Inclusion - 4Digital Inclusion - 4Young Women - 4Adults with Learning Disabilities - 4Disabled Children - 3LGBT community - 3Riding for the Disabled Association - 3Women's Health - 2Young People with Disabilities - 2Disability Sports - 2Women's Football - 1Minority Ethnic Communities - 1Social Equality - 1People with Intellectual Disabilities - 1150Policing - 150Prisoners - 11Police - 6HM Prison Service - 4Police Welfare - 4Probation Service - 3HM Prison - 3HM Coastguard - 3Community Policing - 2Police Officers - 2Fire Service - 2Warwickshire Police - 2Her Majesty's Prison - 1Probation Service during Covid-19 - 1Prison Education - 1Prisoner Rehabilitation - 1Prisoners during Covid-19 - 1Coastguard Rescue Team - 1Public service - 59Local Government - 48Political service - 20Parliament - 9Public Administration - 8Government - 5Parliamentary service - 1Civil Service - 1Energy Policy - 1Government Science - 1Delivery of Public Services - 1Government Finance - 1Veterans - 55Defence - 28Army Cadet Force - 7Armed Forces - 6Armed Forces Personnel - 6Veteran Community - 6Reserve Forces - 3Armed Forces Veterans - 3Army - 3Military Personnel - 3Royal Navy Veterans - 3Royal Navy - 2RAF Association - 2RAF - 2Flood Defence - 2Defence Industry - 1Military Heritage - 1Armed Forces Community - 1RAF Personnel - 1Military Families - 1Military History - 1Military Aviation - 1Military Veterans - 1Royal Air Force Personnel - 1Veterans during Covid-19 - 1Salvation Army - 1Defence Engineering - 1Environment - 45Conservation - 26Forestry - 16Agriculture - 7Nature Conservation - 7Horticulture - 6Wildlife - 5Sustainability - 4Wildlife Conservation - 4Natural Environment - 3Farming Community - 3Farming - 2Marine Conservation - 1Marine Environment - 1Historic Environment - 1Environmental Conservation - 1Farming Industry - 1to Sustainability - 1Agriculture Industry - 1Bat Conservation - 1Business - 40Tourism - 16Hospitality - 9Economy - 8Entrepreneurship - 4Hospitality Industry - 3Tourism Industry - 3International Trade - 2Social Enterprise - 2Creative Industries - 2Construction Industry - 2Music Industry - 2Food Industry - 2Trade - 2Rail Industry - 2Retail - 2Manufacturing - 1Enterprise - 1Nuclear Industry - 1Energy Industry - 1Defence Industry - 1Beauty Industry - 1Drink Industry - 1Fashion Industry - 1Rural Economy - 1Jewish Community - 18Church - 14Sikh community - 6Church Music - 6Interfaith Relations - 5Muslim community - 3Hindu Community - 3Interfaith Cohesion - 3Church Girls' Brigade - 2Church Stretton - 2Interfaith - 1Faith - 1Sikh Heritage - 1to Interfaith Relations - 1Methodist Church - 1Chaplaincy - 1Inter Faith - 1community through Christians Against Poverty - 1Christian Aid - 1Churchill - 1Exeter Cathedral - 1Ardstraw Parish Church - 1Ballinderry Parish Church - 1Bristol Cathedral - 1Cancer Research - 11Science - 9Research - 7Engineering - 4Technology - 4Digital Inclusion - 4Medical Research - 2Physical Education - 2Leukaemia Research - 2Innovation - 1Scientific Research - 1Chemistry - 1Life Sciences - 1Physics - 1Healthcare Science - 1Chemical Sciences - 1Public Understanding of Science - 1Brain Tumour Research - 1Biomedical Research - 1International Trade - 2Overseas - 1Humanitarian Aid - 1Humanitarianism - 1British Citizen Doctors Trained Overseas - 1Community & Voluntary ServiceChildren, Young People & FamiliesEducationHealth & Social CareArts & CultureSport & RecreationEquality, Diversity …Policing & Emergency…Government & Public …Defence & Armed ForcesEnvironment & Agricu…Business & EconomyFaith & BeliefScience, Engineering…International & Dipl…
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Most numerous themes

The themes most often cited for British Empire Medal (BEM).

Honours rounds

Rounds that included this award - open one to see the recipients.

The British Empire Medal is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to replace the original medal, which had been established in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire.

Background from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

At a glance

Established
1922 by King George V
Awarding body
The British Crown
Rank
British Empire Medal
Formal title
None

Overview

Recognises dedication and contribution to community or service organisations.

Eligibility

UK citizens and Commonwealth nationals

  • Community service
  • Charitable work
  • Public service

Local or community level

Rank & Precedence

British Empire Medal - Below MBE

  1. Above: None
  2. Below: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Entitlements

Post-nominal letters
BEM
Formal title
None
Insignia
Medal and ribbon

Award Process

  • Public or organisation nominations
  • Honours committee review
  • Approved by the Sovereign

Announced: New Year Honours and King's Birthday Honours

Ceremony at royal residence

Significance

Meritorious local service

  • Community
  • Service
  • Commitment

Sources & further reading

Honoria is an independent reference. Awards are described from public sources; it is not an official or royal body.

Related honours

See all medals

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