Cabinet Office
193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups will receive the prestigious award this year. The number of awards given to groups this year is higher than last year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.
[View a list of the 2016 Queens Award winners]
Award winners this year range from a War Memorial Community Trust, providing social facilities for the benefit of the community in Clwyd, Wales, to a club enhancing the community by developing individuals through athletics, in Ayrshire and Arran, Scotland.
The Queens Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said:
I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queens Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this years awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.
The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.
Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said:
I would like to congratulate all groups who received this years Queens Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer.
I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.
About the Queens Award for Voluntary Service
This is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queens Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June the anniversary of the Queens Coronation.
Nominate a group for the Queens Award for Voluntary Service
Any group of 2 or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than 3 years can be nominated for the award. Visit the Queens Award for Voluntary Service for more details.
Nominations for the 2017 awards close on 16 September 2016.