2026 nominations will open soon.

Overview

The RDA President’s Award is  one of the most prestigious accolades within the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), honouring extraordinary volunteers who have shown exceptional dedication to RDA for 30 years or more.

Established in 2010 to celebrate RDA’s 40th anniversary, this award is presented annually by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, recognising remarkable contributions to the RDA.

RDA National Office administers the Award which is overseen Mrs Jane Holderness-Roddam CVO CBE, the terms and conditions reflect Her Royal Highness’s wishes.

Purpose

The RDA President’s Award recognises and celebrates individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to RDA through voluntary service, contributing to the ongoing success of the organisation.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the President’s Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Length of Service: A minimum of 30 years of voluntary service to RDA.
• Exceptional Contribution: Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional dedication to RDA or one of its Member Groups.

Nomination Process

Who can nominate?

Anyone can make a nomination for a President’s Award. However, the relevant Regional Chair must be notified of the nomination prior to submission. 

• If the nominee is a Regional Chair, notification should go to the Chair of Regional Chairs
• If the nominee is a member of the RDA UK Board, notification should go to the Deputy Chair of Trustees 

All submissions must include:

1. A completed nomination form

2. A citation made up of: 

• Part 1- Reasons for nomination: a maximum of 300 words outlining the reasons for the nomination, highlighting the nominee’s exceptional service.
• Part 2 – Outline of Exceptional Service: a brief summary of the nominee’s service (100 words maximum)

3. Regional Chair notification 

• Nominations must include confirmation that the nominee’s Regional Chair has been informed.
• If the nominee is a Regional Chair, notification should go to the Chair of Regional Chairs
• If the nominee is a member of the RDA UK Board, notification should go to the Deputy Chair of Trustees 

Nominations can be made via:

• Online Submission: an online form is now available – complete your nomination online here.
• Microsoft Word Form: Download and complete the nomination form in Microsoft Word, then submit via email to volunteer@RDA.org.uk or by post to the address provided on the form – download here.

Why do things look a little bit different this year?

The President’s Awards documentation and nomination forms have been updated for 2026 with accessibility in mind, making the nomination process more inclusive. The new format ensures that the form is accessible for a wider range of individuals, including those with digital access needs.

In addition to the online submission option, we still offer a downloadable, typed Microsoft Word form for those who prefer this method. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for all nominators to submit their forms, ensuring that no deserving volunteer is overlooked due to barriers in the process.

Additional Information: 

For more details, please refer to the President’s Awards 2026 – Award Guidelines

For F.A.Q’s please see – President’s Awards 2026 – F.A.Q’s. 

Need some help getting started? Check out – Telling Their Story – Writing A Powerful Citation for President’s Award Nominations