Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
Nominations are open from today (1 September 2026) and close on 1 December 2026.
If you know a volunteer group, find out more about how to nominate here.
The group cannot nominate themselves, they must be nominated by someone else. The nominator must:-
- be a member of the public with a good knowledge of the group’s work (such as a beneficiary or long-term supporter)
- be able to supply two separate letters of support from two additional people who know the group well
If you’re nominating, you must not be a volunteer, employee or trustee of the group, or in any way involved with the running of the organisation.
KAVS awards are intended for groups that are led by volunteers and provide a benefit for local communities. The group 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
Further information about the King’s Award for Voluntary Service can be found here.