The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, was created in 2002 to recognise the outstanding contributions made by voluntary organisations in local communities across the UK.

To date, 750 groups have received the Award from Her Majesty; however, we are continually striving to recognise more of those who are operating to the highest standard. Previously, groups may not have been nominated because they, or those in a position to nominate them, are unaware of their eligibility for this prestigious Honour.

As part of our work to reach people who know such groups in their area, I write to request your support in sharing information about The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service with other members of your organisation - at a national and/or regional level. In doing so, we would like to encourage nominations from members of the public, someone who has benefited from the group or indeed someone in your organisation who has recognised outstanding voluntary work.

 For further information about the Award, please go to  www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice

Martyn Lewis CBE,

Chairman of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service committee