Competitive Awards
There are five College of Paramedics 2024-2025 Competitive Awards:
The Professor Douglas Chamberlain Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice
The Professor Malcolm Woollard Award for Research Excellence
The Roland Furber Award
The Carol Furber Award
The John Hinds Scholarship Award
Please read the information for each award below carefully before entering.
The Roland Furber Award
This award is presented in memory of the late Roland Furber, a man of integrity, commitment, and passion to whom the paramedic profession owes a great debt. He worked tirelessly and unselfishly for the profession and the professional body. He was the first Chief Executive of the British Paramedic Association – College of Paramedics and was the third President of the College of Paramedics until his untimely death.
This award is open to paid up full and associate members of the College of Paramedics.
- Submission should be of a Clinical Case study that was experienced in person by the applicant. Presentations must be written to protect patient confidentiality, using original text with references as appropriate. Maximum 1000 words, excluding references, front cover, and appendices
- All entries for the award will be marked and judged by an invited academic panel competitively to acknowledge one clear winner
- The prize is a place at the College of Paramedics National Conference usually held in early summer
- The Award will be presented at a Celebration Event organised by the College of Paramedics and publicised prior to the closing date of the Honours and Awards 2024-2025 season
- The winner will receive funding towards travel, accommodation, subsistence, sponsored by Class Professional Publishing
- The winner’s name will be entered on the College of Paramedics Roll of Honour, which appears on the College website, along with all past winners of our Honours and Awards. 2024-2025 season award winners will be named in the College 2024 Annual Report
- As a condition of the award, the winner will be required to submit their case study for publication in Paramedic INSIGHT (Support from the College of Paramedics education team will be given to facilitate this)
Entries must be made using The Roland Furber Award Entry Form and submitted via email to awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk. Entries must be submitted by the advertised closing date.
Roland Furber Award Submission Form: Here
The Carol Furber Award
This award is presented in memory of the late Carol Furber who contributed so much to the College of Paramedics. Carol worked in a voluntary capacity as the senior secretary and administrator for all correspondence, including membership secretary, until her untimely death. We remain in her debt for such dedication to the pioneering early days of the College of Paramedics.
This award is open to paid up to date Student Members of the College of Paramedics.
Submission should be of a REFLECTIVE case study that was experienced in person by the student applicant. Presentations must be written to protect patient confidentiality, using original text with references as appropriate. Maximum 1000 words, excluding references, front cover, and appendices. A countersignature by a registered Paramedic colleague will be needed to authenticate the genuine REFLECTIVE case study
- All entries for the award will be marked and judged by invited academic panel competitively to acknowledge one clear winner
- The prize is a place at the Student Paramedic Conference usually held in November
- The Award will be presented at a Celebration Event organised by the College of Paramedics and publicised prior to the closing date of the Honours and Awards 2024-2025 season
- The winner will receive funding towards travel, accommodation, subsistence, sponsored by Class Professional Publishing. In addition, they will receive a book voucher, to the value of £50.00, for the range of books available at Class Professional Publishing
- The winner’s name will be entered on the College of Paramedics Roll of Honour, which appears on the College website, along with all past winners of our Honours and Awards. 2024-2025 season award winners will be named in the College 2024 Annual Report
- As a condition of the award, the winner will be required to submit their case study for publication in Paramedic INSIGHT (support from the College of Paramedics education team will be given to facilitate this)
Entries must be made using The Carol Furber Award Entry Form and submitted via email to awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk. Entries must be submitted by the advertised closing date.
Carol Furber Award Submission Form: Here
The John Hinds Scholarship Award
This award is presented in memory of the late Dr John Hinds, a man held in high regard as an inspirational leader by Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians and indeed anyone with an interest in prehospital care within Ireland. He selflessly gave a huge amount of his own time to educating and supporting paramedics and ambulance staff on the island of Ireland and a scholarship for those colleagues is a fitting and practical way to preserve their memory of such a well-respected colleague and medical professional.
This award is open to all clinical levels of pre-hospital responder; first responder to advanced paramedic, on the island of Ireland.
Submission should be of a Clinical Case study that was experienced in person by the applicant. Presentations must be written to protect patient confidentiality, using original text with references as appropriate. Maximum 1000 words, excluding references, front cover, and appendices. It must be countersigned by a paramedic colleague, who is prepared to confirm that your submission is a genuine case study
- All entries for the award will be marked and judged by an invited academic panel competitively to acknowledge one clear winner
- The prize is a place on an Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care (ATACC) course, in association with Galen
- The Award will be presented at a Celebration Event organised by the College of Paramedics and publicised prior to the closing date of the Honours and Awards 2024-2025 season
- The winner will receive funding towards travel, accommodation, subsistence
- The winner’s name will be entered on the College of Paramedics Roll of Honour, which appears on the College website, along with all past winners of our Honours and Awards. 2024-2025 season award winners will be named in the College 2024 Annual Report
- As a condition of the award, the winner will be required to submit their case study for publication in Paramedic INSIGHT (support from the College of Paramedics education team will be given to facilitate this)
Entries must be made using The John Hinds Scholarship Award Entry Form and submitted via email to awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk. Entries must be submitted by the advertised closing date.
John Hinds Award Submission Form: Here
The Professor Douglas Chamberlain Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice
The College of Paramedics is proud to introduce the Professor Douglas Chamberlain Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice, an annual award celebrating the fearless spirit of one of the most influential figures in modern paramedicine.
Professor Douglas Chamberlain was a pioneer who challenged convention and transformed the very idea of what pre-hospital care could achieve. His determination to defy traditional hierarchies and his relentless commitment to saving lives laid the foundation for the paramedic profession as we know it today.
This award recognises individuals or teams who embody that same courage and creativity, recognising paramedics who see beyond accepted limits, who innovate boldly in clinical practice, and who demonstrate the power of evidence, collaboration, and compassion to improve patient care.
Judged by members of the College with expert clinical knowledge and experience, alongside Professor Chamberlain’s family, this award is not only a tribute to his legacy but also a call to the next generation: to lead, to innovate, and to transform the future of paramedicine.
Purpose & Inspiration
The award honours a paramedic (or team) whose work exemplifies the pioneering spirit of Professor Douglas Chamberlain, bravely challenging convention, expanding clinical boundaries, and advancing the profession through inventive, life-saving practice. As Douglas fought hierarchical norms to transform out-of-hospital care and enabled paramedics to become recognised professionals, this award celebrates those who follow in his footsteps, driving meaningful change in clinical care delivery for the benefit of society.
Judging & Presentation
• Judging Panel: To be evaluated annually by Professor Chamberlain’s family, selected members of the College with expert clinical knowledge and experience and an external advisor with knowledge of Douglas’s work and may not be from the paramedic profession
• Presentation: Awarded at the College’s annual Honours & Awards presentation event, with the recipient’s name inscribed on the College’s Roll of Honour and featured in the Annual Report. The award winner will also feature in INSIGHT magazine.
Award Criteria
Nominations should clearly demonstrate innovation in clinical practice that aligns with one or more of the following pillars:
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Criterion
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Description
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Why It Matters
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1. Bold Innovation
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Introduced a novel clinical technique, tool, protocol, or model of care that breaks from traditional approaches.
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Reflects Douglas’s fearless challenge to convention and his pioneering introduction of advanced on-scene resuscitation.
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2. Evidence-Powered Impact
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Supported innovation with relevant data or evidence showing tangible improvements in patient outcomes, quality of care, or service reach.
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Mirrors Douglas’s rigor in demonstrating effectiveness of ambulance-based resuscitation.
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3. Professional Advancement
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Contributed to the paramedic profession’s stature through training, policy influence, or public engagement.
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Echoes how Douglas elevated paramedic recognition, shaping training and allied health status.
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4. Collaborative Leadership
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Built alliances across traditional boundaries, within health delivery, education, research, or among statutory bodies, to implement change.
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Captures Douglas’s coalition-building to establish resuscitation councils and modern training frameworks.
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5. Sustainability & Scalability
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Demonstrated capacity for the innovation to be sustained, replicated, or scaled beyond its initial setting.
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Embodies Douglas’s work in shaping national standards, for example, public defibrillator deployment and paramedic training networks.
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Nomination Process
1.
Who may nominate: Open to full members of the College. Individuals or teams who are paramedics actively engaged in clinical practice.
2.
Cover statement (up to 1,000 words) outlining:
- The innovation, its inspiration, and context
- How it aligns with the criteria (especially evidence of impact, collaboration, and scalability)
- Any supporting data, patient stories, or testimonials
- Evidence package: May include data summaries, outcome metrics, brief letters of endorsement, or peer reviews.
3.
Judging: Panel evaluates based on:
- Alignment with Chamberlain’s legacy of fearless, evidence-based innovation
- Demonstrated impact on clinical care and the profession
- Clarity and replicability of the innovation.
Award Benefits
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Recognition: Recipient(s) celebrated at the annual presentation event, with profile on the College’s website, INSIGHT magazine and Annual Report.
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Support for dissemination: Invitation to publish or share their innovation through Paramedic INSIGHT or at a College event, with guidance from the College education team.
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Inspiration: Serving as a beacon for current and future paramedics to push professional boundaries.
Submission Process
1. Nomination Format
Nominations should be submitted via the nomination form available on the College of Paramedics website and emailed to Awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk.
Submissions on the form should be presented as a structured case study, supported by evidence and optional multimedia, using the following sections as suggestions:
2. Case Study Framework (max 3,000 words total, plus appendices)
Section A – Overview (max 500 words)
• Title of the innovation.
• Name(s) and role(s) of nominee(s).
• Summary of the innovation in plain language.
• Timeline of development and implementation.
Section B – The Challenge (max 500 words)
• What problem, barrier, or limitation in clinical practice was identified?
• Why was it important to address?
• Who was affected (patients, services, systems)?
Section C – The Innovation (max 1,000 words)
• Clear description of the idea, change, or method introduced
• How it diverges from or challenges traditional practice
• Any risks identified, and how they were managed
• Collaborative efforts involved (partners, agencies, or inter-professional teams).
Section D – Evidence of Impact (max 1,000 words)
• Quantitative data (outcomes, survival rates, efficiency measures, reach)
• Qualitative data (patient stories, testimonials, staff feedback)
• Sustainability and potential for replication elsewhere, if appropriate.
Section E – Legacy & Alignment with Chamberlain’s Spirit (max 500 words)
• How this innovation reflects Douglas Chamberlain’s pioneering legacy (fearlessness, evidence-driven change, advancing professional recognition)
• Vision for how it could inspire others in the profession.
3. Supporting Evidence
Nominations may include:
• Charts, tables, or brief data summaries
• Letters of endorsement (from patients, colleagues, senior leaders, or academics)
• Short video/audio submission (max 5 minutes), optional, but encouraged. This gives nominees a chance to “tell their story” in a compelling, human way, and helps the judges (including the Chamberlain family members) see the passion behind the innovation.
4. Eligibility & Authorship
Nominations can be for an individual or a team.
• Must be submitted by a College member (self-nomination permitted).
• Work must have been implemented (not just theoretical), though it may be in early stages of development.
5. Judging Process
• Initial Screening: College staff ensure submissions meet format and eligibility.
• Panel Review: Each judge scores submissions against the five published criteria (bold innovation, evidence-powered impact, professional advancement, collaborative leadership, sustainability & scalability).
• Final Discussion: If there are multiple submissions that meet the criteria, shortlisted candidates invited to present a 10-minute lightning talk (virtual or live) to the judging panel. This ensures authenticity, clarity, and gives Douglas’s family an opportunity to hear directly from nominees.
6. Outcome & Feedback
• Winner announced at the Annual Honours & Awards presentation event.
• All shortlisted nominees receive written feedback and recognition in College communications to celebrate their contribution to innovation.
Summary
The Professor Douglas Chamberlain Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice celebrates those who dare to innovate in patient care, championing evidence-based, collaborative, sustainable advances and honours the fearless, transformational legacy of one of paramedicine’s true pioneers.
The Professor Douglas Chamberlain Award for Innovation in Clinical Practice Submission Form: Here
The Professor Malcolm Woollard Award for Research Excellence
The College of Paramedics is proud to introduce the Professor Malcolm Woollard Award for Research Excellence, an annual award celebrating a leading figure in paramedic research.
Purpose & Inspiration
Professor Woollard advanced the integration of research into professional practice and inspired a generation to build the profession’s evidence base.
This award celebrates innovation, excellence and advocacy in paramedic research, and the translation of evidence into improvements for patients, services and the profession.
Judging & Presentation
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Judging Panel: To be selected members of the College with expert research knowledge and experience.
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Presentation: Awarded at the College’s annual Honours & Awards presentation event, with the recipient’s name inscribed on the College’s Roll of Honour and featured in the Annual Report. The award winner will also feature in INSIGHT magazine.
Award Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against the following criteria:
1. Innovation and Originality
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Demonstrates significant originality in research design, methods, or focus
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Advances new ideas or challenges existing assumptions within paramedic research.
2. Impact on Practice
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Provides clear evidence of research influencing clinical practice, education, or policy
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Demonstrates translation of research findings into improvements in patient care or service delivery.
3. Contribution to the Evidence Base
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Produces rigorous, high-quality research that strengthens the evidence base for paramedicine
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Disseminates findings effectively through peer‑reviewed publications, presentations, or professional engagement.
4. Alignment with Professional Values
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Embodies integrity, professionalism, and patient‑centred values in their research
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Demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing the paramedic profession through scholarship.
Eligibility
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Nominees must be individual researchers working within paramedicine
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They may be at any career stage but must demonstrate a substantial and measurable contribution to paramedic research
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The award is not open to research teams or collaborative groups (individual nominations only).
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Self‑nominations are not permitted.
Nominations
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Who may nominate: Nominations must be made by a member of the College of Paramedics. Self‑nominations are not permitted.
2.
Nomination Statement (maximum 1,000 words): The nominator must submit a statement addressing how the nominee meets each of the published criteria. The statement should cover:
- Innovation and Originality
- Impact on Practice
- Contribution to the Evidence Base
- Alignment with Professional Values
3.
Supporting Documentation:
- Nominee’s current CV (maximum 4 pages)
- Up to two supporting letters from colleagues, collaborators or stakeholders (optional but encouraged).
Award Benefits
• Recognition at the annual Honours & Awards presentation event, with profile on the College’s website, INSIGHT magazine and listed in the College and Research Annual Reports
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Invitation to share the research (e.g., via INSIGHT, College events or webinars) to support dissemination and impact
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Inspiration to the profession by showcasing excellence in research and its translation into practice.
Submission Process
1. Nomination Format
Nominations should be submitted via the nomination form available on the College of Paramedics website and emailed to Awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk.
2. Required Components
- Completed online nomination form
- Nomination statement (up to 1,000 words) addressing all criteria
- Nominee’s CV (max 4 pages)
- Up to two supporting letters (optional).
3. Eligibility & Authorship
- Individual nominees only; team nominations will not be accepted
- Nominator must be a College member; self‑nominations are not permitted
- Work presented should be the nominee’s original research contribution and its demonstrable impact.
4. Judging Process
- Initial Screening: College staff confirm completeness and eligibility
- Panel Review: Judges score nominations against the four published criteria
- Final Discussion: The panel agrees the winner based on total scores and qualitative deliberation
- The panel reserves the right to request clarification from nominators if required.
5. Outcome & Feedback
- The winner will be announced at the Annual Honours & Awards presentation event
- All shortlisted nominees will receive written feedback.
The Professor Malcolm Woollard Award for Research Excellence Submission Form:
Here
**The College celebrates diversity and would be more than happy to provide this guidance and the relevant form in a format that is accessible to you. Please email awards@collegeofparamedics.co.uk with details of your requirements**
Honours and Awards 2025 – 2026 Guidance Document