The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

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.

Photograph of Queen's Award for Voluntary Service crystal block

Lady Gretton with Members of the Baldwin Trust

Recent Winners

Year	Winner	Activity
2011	Friends of Thringstone	Improving the local area of Thringstone and providing community based activities through volunteers
2010	The Baldwin Trust	Providing river and canal day trips for elderly and disabled people on specially equipped narrow boats.
2009	Gwendoline Community House Volunteers	Improving the quality of life for people living on the local estate in Hinckley.
2008	CKI Martial Arts	Teaching young people the sport of martial arts.
2007	Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire	Provides for the needs of the Muslim community with the procedures and practices of interment of the deceased.
2006	Amazon Young Women’s Project, Loughborough	Youth workers motivate group members to develop creative initiatives to tackle the issues of crime and public safety.
2006	Braunstone Stars and Angels, Leicester	Provides a community based activity for children from 4 years to learn singing, voice training and performance.
2003	Muslim Khatri Association	Provide social and recreational activities for local residents, advancing education and relieving proverty in the community.
2003	Coping with Cancer, Leicester	Provide information and practical and emotional support to people affected by cancer in Leicestershire and Rutland.