The King's Award for Voluntary Service
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1. Overview
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.
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.
Read detailed guidance on the eligibility criteria.
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 The Gazette.
You can also view the list of awardees on The King’s Award for Voluntary Service website.
2. How to make a nomination
You can nominate a group for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service online.
Nominees are considered for an award the year after they’re nominated.
You can make a nomination between 1 June and mid September.
You must be independent of the group you’re 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’re nominating - for example:
- someone who benefits from the group’s work
- someone who’s aware of the group’s 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.
kingsaward@dcms.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7271 6206
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges