Nominate Someone for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
What is it?
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local communities. Winners are announced on 2 June every year. In 2011, 130 volunteer groups from across the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands won the award – including a London-based children’s performing arts mentoring programme; a Fife museum conserving historic boats and the history of Scotland’s fishing industry; and a scheme helping the long-term unemployed in Glastonbury find work and education opportunities.
Winners of the award receive a certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen and a domed glass crystal, presented to groups by the Lord Lieutenant from the local county. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.
How can I get involved?
- Any member of the public can nominate a volunteer group working in the local community, even if you benefit from its work. But you can’t nominate a group that you are a part of, for example if you are a volunteer, a trustee or a paid staff member.
- The group you nominate must consist of two or more people in the UK doing volunteering work that provides a specific benefit to a local area for three or more years. Their volunteering work can include support to people overseas.
- Activities don’t only have to provide direct benefits to the local community, like running a youth club. They can also provide indirect benefits, like protecting the environment. A volunteer group’s work must involve more than just fundraising.
- You can nominate a group at any time, but if you wish to make sure your group is considered for an award in the following year, your nomination must be received by 30 September.
- Nominations may be considered at any point over a three-year period after nomination. During this time you may be contacted to provide up-to-date information about the group.
- If a group isn’t successful in the three years after being nominated, a fresh nomination can then be made.
Where can I find out more?
- Find more information about how to nominate someone for an award, and download a nomination form, at Directgov – Nominating a group for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
- Find out more about past winners at Directgov – Winners and case studies of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.