The King's Award for Voluntary Service

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest recognition for volunteer groups in the UK. It celebrates outstanding work done by local volunteer-led groups to benefit their communities. Often described as the ‘MBE for volunteer groups,’ this prestigious award helps raise the profile and morale of those who give their time selflessly

Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering and each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King's Awards for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

The award was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and was previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).

This annual award is made to recognise and reward the most exceptional and innovative groups who provide volunteer-led activities in the community. Equivalent to an MBE, King's Awards for Voluntary Service is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

The successful organisations will receive a certificate signed by HM The King and a glass crystal which will be presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mr Alexander Scott. Furthermore, two volunteers from each group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace the following summer, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

The awards are announced on The King's birthday, 14 November, each year.

The 2026 King's Award for Voluntary Service opened for nominations on 1 September and will close on 1 December. For more information see below.

2026 nominations are now open

Who is eligible?

KAVS awards are intended for groups that are led by volunteers and provide a specific and direct benefit for local communities.

The group must be:

Led by volunteers, not by paid staff; over half its members should be volunteers
Made up of three or more people, based in the UK, and have been in operation for at least three years

The group must not have been nominated for the award in the past 3 years or already received one.

For full eligibility guidance see Eligibility - The King's Award for Voluntary Service

Who can nominate?

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

The nominator must not:

be a volunteer, employee or trustee of the group, or in any way involved with the running of the organisation

How to make a nomination

Nominations for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service can be made online at the KAVS website. Before you start the nomination process please read their nomination guidance pages.

Letters of support

Letters of support are an essential part of your nomination, as they help to clarify and explain the impact of the nominated group’s work in the local community.

The nominator must submit two letters of support from two additional people who know the organisation well.

Letters must be written by individuals who know the work of the group and are happy to support it. For example, these letters could be from a service user, member of a partner organisation, local resident or councillor, or a family member of a beneficiary etc.
Letters from beneficiaries or members of the community are more powerful than letters from MPs or individuals less familiar with the group’s work.
Letters written by the nominator, a volunteer or anyone involved in the running of the organisation including employees and trustees will be ineligible and not considered.
Letters should be clear that they are in support of the King’s Award nomination.

Letters should cover:

the impact of the group on the local community
who and how have they helped
what the volunteers in the group do and why they are special
the relationship of the supporter to the group, including the reason for the endorsement

For more guidance see Letters of support - The King's Award for Voluntary Service

When can nominations for 2026 be made?

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service runs in annual cycles, starting with nominations opening in September each year and closing at the beginning of December. Local and national assessments take place between January and June, with the announcement of Awardees on His Majesty The King’s Birthday on November 14. Learn more about the timeline and meet some of the assessors.

Nominations for 2026 opened on 1 September 2025 and close on 1 December 2025.

What is the Lieutenancy's role?

The Lieutenancy Office may be able to offer advice and mentoring to eligible applicants in the completion of the online application form.

The Cumbria Lieutenancy plays an active part in visiting and assessing eligible Cumbrian nominations.

For more guidance contact the Lieutenancy Office.

View previous winners

Looking at previous winners of the King's Award for Voluntary Service, and reading some of their stories, may help you with your nomination.

King's Award for Voluntary Service - 2025 national winners

King's Award for Voluntary Service - recent Cumbria winners