Queen's Award for Voluntary Services
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Queen's Award for Voluntary Services
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In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen's Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
In common with other Queen's Awards, which sit within the government department relevant to their subject matter, this Award is directed and overseen by the Office of the Third Sector which is in the Cabinet Office. The day to day administration and the Award's communications work is carried out by externally appointed agency, Consolidated PR.
In 2006, the Cabinet Office undertook an independent review of the Award as had been agreed when the Award was originally established, resulting in a number of changes to the nomination, assessment and selection process which were recommended and approved by the Queen in July 2007. The Review's recommendations form the basic rules under which the Award now operates.
Groups may be nominated if they meet the following eligibility requirements:
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Community based volunteer groups (two or more people) are eligible. This may include groups that are organisationally part of a larger regional or national organisation as long as the initiative and drive for the volunteering activity has started and been developed locally by the volunteers
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The beneficiaries of the service provided by eligible groups can be in the UK or overseas, but groups must be based in the UK
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Groups that bring a direct and indirect benefit to people are eligible. Indirect benefit includes, for example, groups working for the preservation of the heritage, environment etc.
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Groups must have been operating at a high standard for a minimum of three years
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Groups are eligible as long as they are made up of a simple majority of volunteers
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The majority of volunteers must have the right of residence in the UK
Please note: Groups that are solely involved in fundraising activity for charitable purposes are not eligible for an Award e.g. groups involved in street collections, jumble sales or charity shops, the primary purpose of which is to raise money.
Advice can be sought from the Office of the Lieutenancy on the nomination process. We will offer a checking service to ensure that you have the best possible chance of a successful nomination. Our contact details are on this website.
For more information go to this link:
http://www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/||
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