The King's Award for Voluntary Service

The award was announced by Elizabeth II on 30 April 2002, in celebration of her Golden Jubilee, as part of her Golden Jubilee speech to the House of Lords and House of Commons. The first awards were made in 2003, then called the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award. In February 2023, it was announced by Charles III that he wished to continue his mother's legacy by giving his name to the awards. The awards will be announced annually from 2023 on his birthday, 14 November. ==Eligibility==

Groups of three or more people can be nominated. The group must have been in operation for at least three years and their work must provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community. ==Award==

Nominations are made online and around one in three nominations are successful. Winners receive a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal. The volunteer group's representatives also may be invited to attend a royal garden party by the King. ==Procedure for assessment and selection==

Each nomination is first appraised in the county or crown dependency where the group works. This appraisal is led by the Lord Lieutenant (or Lieutenant Governor in the Crown Dependencies), His Majesty's representative in the county or country, helped by a County/Country Assessment Panel of leading representatives from diverse sectors of the community. The Lord Lieutenant/Lieutenant Governor or their representatives, or both, may meet with the nominated group. A Specialist Assessment Panel of independent volunteering experts from across the UK judge nominated groups against the award criteria, taking into account the first appraisal. The panel passes its recommendations to the Main Award Committee. The Main Award Committee advise the Cabinet Office and the Minister for Civil Society. The award is decided after the King has given his formal approval. ==Recipients of The King's Award for Voluntary Service (2023 onwards)==

The recipients of the inaugural King's Award for Voluntary Service were gazetted on Tuesday 14 November 2023. There were 251 recipients in 2023, 281 in 2024 and 231 in 2025. ==Recipients of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (up to 2022)==

Up to and including 2022 over 3,000 groups received the award. Recipients included: ==Notes==