The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups in the UK voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.
This is the highest national honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
The Award is overseen by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS). The OTS leads work across government to support the environment for a thriving third sector, voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities, cooperatives and mutuals. This enables it to campaign for change, promote social enterprise and strengthen communities.
More than 750 groups around the UK have now won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, since it was created by Her Majesty in 2002.
To nominate a Voluntary Group, find out more about the criteria for nominations or to apply
click here.