The King's Award for Voluntary Service
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work in their local communities for the benefit of others. The Lieutenancy is heavily involved in promoting and organising these Awards in the County. In recent years, many voluntary groups in Berkshire have received this prestigious award.
The annual Award – the equivalent of an MBE – was created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. Winning groups receive a certificate signed by The King and a commemorative crystal pillar. These are presented by the Lord Lieutenant at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy.
This major UK national honour sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering. Each nomination is judged on the benefits it gives to the local community. There is not a set number of winners in a sector of volunteering work or region of the country.
You are actively encouraged to nominate any volunteer group in Berkshire if you know about the work they do and believe it should be honoured in this way.
How to Nominate Someone for an Award
In common with the UK National Honours, there are no deadlines for the receipt of nomination forms. Award nominations will be considered at any point within 3 years of the nomination. Any group of two or more people doing volunteering work (for two years or more) that is a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award.
A comprehensive guide to nominations and a nomination form can be found on the website The King’s Award for Voluntary Service https://www.gov.uk/kings-award-for-voluntary-service
Recent Berkshire winners
2023
My Cancer My Choices
The Ceremonial Wardens
2022
Alana House
Homestart West Berkshire
The Ark Trust CIC
2021
Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara (GMGG)
Learning to work
Listen to Us
MOD Corsham Military Co-Responders Team
No5 Young People
Reading Family Aid Group
Reading Rowing Club
Smart Works Reading
The Link Foundation
The Link Visiting Scheme
2020
Berkshire Healthcare NHS FT 'Volunteers'
Progress Theatre
2019
Maidenhead & District Stroke Club
Paving the Way
Reading Refugee Support Group (RRSG)
Sport in Mind
The Mills Archive Trust
Wargrave Girls Football Club
2018
Electric Eels Swimming & Syncro Club for children with Down's Syndrome
Swallowfield Horticultural Society
The Wayz
2017
Earley Day Centre
Jelly
Swallowfield Community Responders
Thames ValleyKings Wheelchair Basketball Club (Kings)
The Braywick Charitable Trust
West Berkshire Therapy Centre
2016
Building for the Future, Wokingham
Clay Hill Residents Association, West Berkshire
Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau, Wokingham
Maidenhead & Windsor Community First Responders, Maidenhead
Relay for Life Ascot, Ascot
The Challenge Club, Bracknell
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, West Berkshire
The Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading
The Sir Stanley Spencer Memorial Trust, Cookham
2015
Apna Virsa, Slough
Jealott's Hill Community Landshare, Bracknell
Open Kitchen, Maidenhead
Slough Special Voices, Slough
2014
ABC to Read, Reading
Berkshire County Blind Society
Crowthorne Old Age to Teen Society
Elizabeth House Cookham
Kerith Community Church, Bracknell
Mortimer Village Partnership
Slough Furniture Project (Homemaker)
2013
Red Diamond Club, Bracknell
Churches in Reading Women’s Centre
Thames Hospicecare Windsor
Thames Valley Positive Support Slough
© Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire 2023 | Office of the Lieutenancy for Berkshire, Berkshire Record Office, 9 Coley Avenue, Reading, Berkshire RG1 6AF | Telephone 0118 937 2281 | lord.lieutenant@reading.gov.uk
