The King's Awards

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service celebrates the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK. Equivalent to an MBE, it is the highest possible achievement voluntary groups can achieve, and the awards are held for life. The awards are an excellent way to reward volunteers who work hard to support people across our county, and make a real difference to our local communities.

Organisations are eligible for the award will:

  • be made up of three or more people
  • be based in the UK, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
  • have been in operation for at least three years before nomination
  • have over half its volunteers eligible to reside in the UK
  • be led by volunteers, not by paid staff; over half its members should be volunteers
  • provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community
The Lord-Lieutenant presenting an award for voluntary service

If the group is successful in winning the award, they will receive:

  • an invitation for two representatives from the group to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
  • permission to use the King’s Award Logo on their marketing material, such as advertisements, stationery, and website
  • a certificate confirming their award signed by the King and a crystal trophy
  • presentation of their award by the Lord-Lieutenant on the King’s behalf

Nominations

Nominations should be made online via the KAVS website to make sure the group is considered for the Awards. Nominators must be members of the public who have a good knowledge of the group’s work, and two letters of support must be provided. The nominator cannot be a volunteer, employee, or trustee of the group.

Please see:

Nomination information - The King's Award for Voluntary Service PDF, 219.13 KB Opens new window

for more information and tips on how to nominate.

Following nomination, the Lieutenancy office will contact the group to arrange for a visit by a member of the Lieutenancy to assess the group’s suitability. They will then make a recommendation to the main King’s Awards Panel in London.

The nomination window is open from June - September, with winners announced on the King’s Birthday, 14 November.

Members of our dedicated workstream are available to discuss your nomination and any queries you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact the Leicestershire Lieutenancy Office and we will be happy to assist:

Email: lieutenancyoffice@leics.gov.uk
Phone: 0116 305 6002

This award was previously known as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Leicestershire Winners

  • 103TheEye
  • 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets
  • Amazon Young Woman's Project
  • Bosworth In Bloom
  • Braunstone Stars and Angels Singing Group
  • CKI School of Martial Arts
  • Coping with Cancer in Leics & Rutland
  • Eyres Monsell Club for Young People
  • Friends of Thringstone
  • Gwendoline Community House Volunteers
  • Heartwize
  • Hinckley Concordia
  • Inter Care – Medical Aid For Africa
  • Leicester Deaf Centre
  • Leicester Hospitals Volunteers
  • Leicestershire and Rutland Blood Bikes
  • LeicesterShire Search and Rescue
  • Loughborough Students’ Union
  • Market Bosworth Community Library
  • Market Harborough in Bloom Volunteers
  • Menphys
  • Mountsorrel and Rothley Heritage Centre
  • Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire
  • Muslim Khatri Association
  • Open Hands
  • Saffron Acres
  • Shackerstone Restoration Project
  • Shree Jalaram Prarthna Mandal-Jalaram Mandir & Jalaram Community Centre
  • Swannington Heritage Trust
  • Syston and District Volunteer Centre
  • The Baldwin Trust
  • The Pera Foundation
  • Twenty Twenty
  • Volunteer Skippers & Crew for Peter Le Marchant Trust