The King's Award for Voluntary Service
The King's Award for Voluntary Service,[1] previously known as The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,[a] is an annual award given to groups in the voluntary sector of the United Kingdom. Until 2022, awardees were announced in the London Gazette on 2 June each year, the anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II. Starting in 2023, the awards have been announced on 14 November, Charles III's birthday.
The King's Award for Voluntary Service | |
---|---|
Award logo | |
Awarded for | For outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers |
Country | United Kingdom |
Presented by | The King |
First awarded | 2003 |
Website | kavs |
The award is equivalent to the MBE and is the highest award that can be made to a voluntary group. The award is managed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
History
editThe award was announced by Elizabeth II on 30 April 2002, in celebration of her Golden Jubilee, as part of her Golden Jubilee speech to the House of Lords and House of Commons.[2][3] The first awards were made in 2003.[4]
In February 2023, it was announced by Charles III that he wished to continue his mother's legacy by giving his name to the awards.[5] The awards will be announced annually from 2023 on his birthday, 14 November.[5]
Eligibility
editGroups of three or more people can be nominated. The group must have been in operation for at least three years and their work must provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community.[6][7]
Award
editNominations are made online and around one in three nominations are successful.[8] Winners receive a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal. The volunteer group's representatives also may be invited to attend a royal garden party by the King.[7]
Procedure for assessment and selection
editEach nomination is first appraised in the county where the group works. This appraisal is led by the Lord Lieutenant, His Majesty's representative in the county, helped by a County Assessment Panel of leading representatives from diverse sectors of the community. The Lord Lieutenant or their representatives, or both, may meet with the nominated group.
A Specialist Assessment Panel of independent volunteering experts from across the UK judge nominated groups against the Award criteria, taking into account the first appraisal. The panel passes its recommendations to the Main Award Committee.
The Main Award Committee advise the Cabinet Office and the Minister for Civil Society.
The award is decided after the King has given his formal approval. [9]
Recipients of The King's Award for Voluntary Service (2023 onwards)
editThe recipients of the inaugural King's Award for Voluntary Service were gazetted on Tuesday 14th November, 2023.[10][11]
Recipients of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (up to 2022)
editAs of June 2018[update], over 1,500 groups had received the award,[12] including:
- 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum
- 24:7 Theatre Festival
- Afghanistan and Central Asian Association
- Andy's Man Club[13]
- Avon Valley Railway
- Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue
- Bilston Town F.C.
- Blood Bikes Wales
- Blue Apple Theatre
- Bluebell Railway
- British Red Cross
- British Youth Council
- Brunel Museum
- Cave Rescue Organisation
- Cheshire Search and Rescue
- Ford Park Cemetery
- Freewheelers EVS
- Highfields School, Matlock
- Hospital Radio Plymouth
- Inspiration FM
- Inverness Hospital Radio
- Islington Chinese Association
- Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
- Kynren
- Maritime Volunteer Service
- Mills Archive
- Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre
- Mountain Rescue Ireland
- Muslim Hands
- National Coastwatch Institution
- North Devon Hospice[14]
- Oxford Friend
- Royal National Institute for Deaf People
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution (various individual branches)
- Sandall Park
- Scene & Heard
- Seagull Trust
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices
- South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band
- Swindon 105.5
- Switchboard (UK)
- Talyllyn Railway
- Tommy Jessop
- Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
- Warwickshire Vision Support
- World Mission Society Church of God
- Zenith Youth Theatre Company
Notes
edit- ^ Also known by its special editions' names: "The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community", "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award", and "Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award".
References
edit- ^ "King Charles III continues Queen Elizabeth's legacy by giving His Majesty's name to prestigious awards". Gov.uk. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Full text of the Queen's Jubilee speech". BBC News. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ "Nominating a group for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service". GOV UK. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family: A Glorious Illustrated History. DK Publishing. 2015.
- ^ a b "King Charles III continues Queen Elizabeth's legacy by giving His Majesty's name to prestigious awards". Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Eligibility - The King's Award for Voluntary Service". The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Queens Award for Voluntary Service". GOV UK. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ Hennessey, Kat (25 June 2014). "The Queen's Awards for Enterprise". GOV UK. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "WATV – UK Queens Award". Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
Procedure for Assessment and Selection
- ^ "THE KING'S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE 2023". The London Gazette. No. 64227. 14 November 2023. p. J1. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "THE KING'S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE 2023" (PDF). kavs.dcms.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Winners and case studies of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service". Direct Gov. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012.
- ^ "Andy's Man Club Halifax receives The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service". www.halifaxcourier.co.uk. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Matt Smart (2 June 2020). "North Devon Hospice's volunteers receive royal recognition with Queen's Award". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 26 June 2021.