The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) was established in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The award is the highest honour that can be given to voluntary groups. Its status is equivalent to the MBE.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others in the community, improving the quality of life and opportunity for others and providing outstanding service.
Anybody may nominate, but groups must not self-nominate. A group can be nominated if it consists of two people or more, is based in the UK, has been in existence for at least three years, and over half of its members are volunteers.
Nominations should be submitted electronically in the period April-September for the following year’s award. The winners are announced in the London Gazette on 2 June. The Lord-Lieutenant subsequently presents winning groups with a commemorative piece of crystal and a certificate from The Queen.
Details on the nomination process are available on the https//qavs.culture.gov.uk
The QAVS Winners for 2019
Earlams Styal Village Community Store, Café and Gallery
ELLA Together
Frodsham Community Association
Knutsford Hosts
Merseyside & Cheshire Bloodbikes
Recent winners in Cheshire include:
2018
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group of Runcorn
Cheshire Search & Rescue (CSAR) based in Winsford
Knutsford Heritage Centre
Reach Out and Recover (ROAR) of Macclesfield
Space4Autism of Macclesfield
2017
Just Drop-In Youth Info & Advice, Macclesfield
Seahorse Swimming Club, Crewe
The Neuromuscular Centre, Winsford
Onside Warrington Youth Club
2016
East Cheshire Hospice Christmas Tree Collection and Recycling Scheme
Nantwich Agricultural Society
2015
Chelford Tenants & Residents’ Association
CRE8 (Macclesfield)
Northern Lights Children’s Charity (Neston)
2014
The winners of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2014 have been announced and include two Groups from Cheshire.
Fairfield & Howley Neighbourhood Project (Warrington)
The Wednesday Disco Team (Widnes).
2013
The Welcome Cafe in Knutsford
DIAL House in Chester
Volunteers at the Anson Engineering Museum in Poynton
2012
Mersey Weaver District Scout Council
Dee Sign Choir of Chester and
Chester Adult PHAB Social Club
2011
Live! (Chester)
Windmill Hill Community Association (Runcorn)
Cheshire County Show Volunteers
Bridgend Centre (Bollington)
St. Luke’s Hospice Volunteers (Winsford)
St John Ambulance Cheshire Young Carers Volunteers (Ellesmere Port)