The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020

Nominations for the 2020 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services are now open and will close on 13 September.

This year a record number of 281 voluntary groups were awarded in the ceremony on 2 June.

The award is the highest honour for volunteer groups in the UK and recognises the important work taking place in communities by these organisations.

One of the award winners was the Hospice of St Francis.

Gillian went on to explain, ‘Some of our volunteers have been with us throughout this time and others have joined due to seeing Hospice care in action. We are just privileged to have such dedicated volunteers, in all areas of the Hospice, enabling those we support to live their precious lives well.’

Nomination criteria

Any volunteer-led group of two people or more providing a service and meeting a need for people living in the local community can be nominated. The volunteer group should be running for three years or more. It must be run locally and it must be supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it.

The majority of the group must be volunteers and more than half the volunteers must have the right to live in the UK.

Judging is based on the benefit groups bring to their community and their reputation locally.

What the winners get

Winners get a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

After this year’s awards, Mims Davies, minister for civil society, said: “Volunteers make an incredible difference to so many people’s lives and their communities. “These prestigious awards recognise the wonderful work being done by many voluntary organisations across the country.

Nominate a group for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.