The King's Award for Voluntary Service
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1. Overview
The King鈥檚 Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.
The award is equivalent to an MBE and is awarded for life. It鈥檚 announced every year on 14 November, the King鈥檚 birthday.
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Read more about this award on .
Eligibility
To be nominated, a group must:
- be made up of at least 3 people
- be led by volunteers, not paid staff
- have been running for at least 3 years
- be based in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- provide a specific and direct benefit to their local communities
The majority of the group must be volunteers, and more than half the volunteers must have the right to live in the UK.
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What the awardees get
Awarded groups get a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal. Up to 2 representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.
How the awards are decided
Local assessors research and visit nominated groups before writing a report on their suitability. Local assessment panels then decide which ones to put forward to the National Assessment Committee.
The committee considers the nominations and agrees a shortlist for approval by the King.
The awards are announced on 14 November in .
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2. How to make a nomination
You can .
Nominees are considered for an award the year after they鈥檙e nominated.
You can make a nomination between 1 September and 1 December.
You must be independent of the group you鈥檙e nominating.
Support for your nomination
When you nominate a group you also need letters from 2 people who support your nomination and are independent from the group you鈥檙e nominating - for example:
- someone who benefits from the group鈥檚 work
- someone who鈥檚 aware of the group鈥檚 work
The letters must include:
- how the group helps the local community
- how you know the group
Contact
Get in touch if you need help with your nomination, or need to find out more about the award.