The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

About this Award

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is for outstanding achievement by groups which volunteer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life and opportunity of others in the local communities.

Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

Any volunteer group that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award.

Each group is assessed on the leadership and drive shown by the volunteers, the benefit it brings to the local community and its standing within that community.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was established by HM Queen Elizabeth in 2002 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of her Coronation; the first awards were given in 2003.

Winners receive a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal both presented by The Lord-Lieutenant. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

How to Nominate a Voluntary Group

Who Can Nominate
– To nominate a group, you must be independent from the group. You could be, for example, someone who benefits from the group’s work or someone who’s aware of the group’s work.
– You cannot nominate your own group if you’re a volunteer or paid staff member, so as to ensure that nominations are independent and supported.

What makes a voluntary group eligible for nomination?
– Volunteer groups must have been running for three years or more to be nominated.
– Any group of three or more people doing voluntary work can be nominated but the majority of the group must be volunteers and more than half the volunteers must have the right to live in the UK.
– The group will need to know they are being nominated.

What sort of work makes voluntary group eligible?
– The group must provide a service and meet a need for people living in the local community.
– The group must be supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it.
– The group must be run locally.

Letters of Support
A nomination must include at least two letters of support from other people, which explain:
– How the group helps the local community.
– How the letter-writer knows the group.
These letters can come from a wide range of people, e.g. those who receive the service, those who know about the service provided, councillors, police officers, mayors, MPs, religious leaders, fire officers, teachers – they do not have to be from people occupying senior positions.

How do I submit a nomination?

Complete the nomination form online at: 

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/make-a-nomination/about-nominating/

How is the nomination considered?
A panel overseen by the Lieutenancy, looks at evidence about the group’s activity, the group’s impact and reputation and how it may have overcome obstacles.
The nomination needs to show the panel evidence that the volunteer activity is exceptional, along with information that brings out the roles of volunteers and whether the activity of the group is volunteer-led.
Volunteer-led does not mean that ‘only volunteers’ must be involved in the work of the group, it just means that there must be evidence of the volunteers taking a leading role in key aspects of the work of the group.
Also taken into account is how far the group has achieved, or is moving towards achieving, standards of excellence in its organisation and its volunteers.