To celebrate the Golden Jubilee, The Queen announced a new, annual award to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (formally known as The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award) is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who

  • Regularly devote their time to helping others in the community
  • Improve the quality of life and opportunity for others
  • Provide an outstanding service.

The first 200 winning groups were announced on 2 June 2003, and it is anticipated that winners in subsequent years will be announced on the same date.

If you know a group that is really making a difference to your community it may be nominated for this award.

To obtain a nomination form or further details on the award please visit the website: www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk.

The basic information on nominating groups is as follows: groups must be nominated, for example by beneficiaries of their work, members of the public, representatives of public bodies, or other voluntary groups. Each nomination must be endorsed by two supporters. Only one nomination per group is allowed.

Nominators must not be:

  • Involved in running the group
  • A partner or relative of any one involved in running it
  • A volunteer with the group.

If you want to nominate a group, you must establish with the group that it is, in principle, eligible for consideration and is content to be nominated. Then, on the nomination form, you

  • Provide detailed background information on the group and a testimonial on the group’s worth and value to the community, and then
  • Obtain an endorsement from two supporters.

The two supporters of your nomination must not be involved in running the group, or be a partner or relative of any one involved in running it. A volunteer with the group or a beneficiary of its services may act as a supporter, but if they do, the other supporter must be completely independent of the group.

Presentation of the Emblem of the Award

The Lord-Lieutenant makes presentations on behalf of The Queen of an engraved crystal block and grant of appointment.

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