The King's Award for Voluntary Service

What is a King's Award for Volunteers (KAVS)?

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

Why Enter?

The Award can bring substantial benefits to recipients, including:

The award is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.
The award recognises Groups where volunteers, rather than paid staff, are in the driving seat.
Groups that win have demonstrated  that they are truly outstanding and making a big differences to their local community and that have highest standards in everything they do.
Groups that win gain high profile local and national recognition.
The award celebrates the actions of volunteers coming together to help their communities.

Eligibility

Is your organisation eligible to apply?

To be nominated for The King’s Award for Enterprise your organisation must:

  • 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
  • have been nominated for a QAVS/KAVS* award in the past 3 years
  • have already received a QAVS/KAVS* award
  • operate as a national organisation, as QAVS/KAVS* is aimed at local volunteer groups
  • have fundraising or grant making as its primary focus
  • be based within or in support of a public service, unless they have a separate identity from the public service organisation
  • operate solely for the benefit of animals, unless it can demonstrate that its work provides significant other benefits to the local community (for example, therapy pets)

Nomination Process

Nominations are accepted between September 1st and December 1st.

The process of nominating a group is simple:

Step 1

Use our eligibility criteria to make sure the group is eligible for an award and you are eligible to nominate.

 

Step 2

Consider information about your chosen group such as their contact information, the group’s impact in your local community, and what makes the volunteers so impressive.

Step 3

Set up a KAVS nominator account – it only takes a minute. Link below.

Step 4

Get in touch with 2 other people who would be able to supply letters of support for the group.

Step 5

Complete the online nomination form and upload the two letters of support.

Link to register to nominate

Previous Winners

Mid-Cheshire Foodbank

Alsager Community Support

South Cheshire Amateur Boxing Club

AIR (Activity in Retirement), Macclesfield

Overwater Wheelyboat Services, Audlem

OPAL Services, (Rural West Cheshire)

Vale Royal Talking Newspaper

Earlams Styal Village Community Store, Café and Gallery

ELLA Together

Frodsham Community Association

Knutsford Hosts

Merseyside & Cheshire Bloodbikes

Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the KAVS Chair, announces the recipients of the 2023 Award

FAQ

Have Questions? Look Here.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – official website (dcms.gov.uk)

Nominations can be submitted between September 1st and December 1st.

To be nominated, a group must:

  • be made up of at least 3 people
  • be led by volunteers, not paid staff
  • have been running for at least 3 years
  • be based in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
  • provide a specific and direct benefit to their local communities

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

The award is an excellent way of recognising and celebrating  the incredible work that volunteers do to help our communities. The award provides national recognition to the organisation and the organisation is permitted to use the Kings Award For Voluntary Service emblem on all its publications.

The awards are announced on the Kings Birthday November 14th.