The FREE to enter competition will once again be available from 31 March until 30 June 2025 and open to any Burial Authority (Cemetery or Churchyard) within the UK.
The three categories of Cemeteries in this year's competition are -
A. Large Burial Grounds above 10,000 graves
B. Small/Medium Burial Grounds up to 10,000 graves
C. Parish, Town and Community Councils
We will once again be using a photographic element to the competition to allow a subjective section to the scoring process, this will only involve the CYA finalists during adjudication. Extra Marks to be awarded for the maintenance and appeal of the Cemeteries and used to determine the Gold and Silver places creating another dimension to the competition.
The winner will receive a CYA Gold Award Certificate and a CYA Press Release that can be used to promote your achievement, in your local newspaper, social media and on your website. Silver Awards Certificates will be presented to the runners up along with a CYA Press Release.
Note: The competition will also include the following two extra categories in this year's competition.
D. The Best New CYA Entrant Award, for the highest scoring new entry in each category in CYA 2025.
The winner will receive a CYA Best New Entrant Certificate and a CYA Press Release that can be used to promote your achievement, in your local newspaper, social media and on your website.
E. The BRAMM Bereaved Community Award - Unfortunately, previous Gold and Silver winners of this Award are unable to submit the same entries however you may submit any new initiatives you are involved with.
If your Cemetery or Burial Ground has completed any local initiative which has helped the bereaved in any way within the last 5 years you are eligible to enter for this award.
We know there are many enterprising Cemeteries that go the extra mile to help bereaved families, for example: this may be simply offering a flower service or café within the cemetery or providing memorials for still born children.
To enter this category, please write a short account (no more than 250 words) and explain your local enterprise, you can also submit up to three photographs to support your entry.
The winner of the BRAMM Bereaved Community Award will receive £1,000 prize money along with a BRAMM/CYA Gold Award Certificate and a BRAMM/CYA Press Release that can be used to promote your achievement, in your local newspaper, social media and on your website.
Silver Awards Certificates will be presented to the runners up along with a BRAMM/CYA Press Release.
The Cemetery of the Year Awards Competition is designed not only to improve standards within Burial Grounds but also to encourage compliance with legislation and support best practice with information from leading Burial Authority Organisations.
The BRAMM Cemetery of the Year Award 2025 has been sponsored by The British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) and supported and endorsed by -
Good Luck.
Cemetery of the Year 2025 Rules.
1. Entry to the competitions is restricted to one entry per Cemetery please.
2. The competition is open to any Burial Authority (Cemetery or Churchyard) within the UK.
3. The top scores in each category will be adjudicated after the competition closing date using the contact details on the entry form.
4. The Judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
5. The competition will run from March 31 until June 30 2025.
6. The finalists will be invited to the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Conference in September 2025 to receive their prizes.