Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, also known as the The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community is an annual award given to groups in the voluntary sector
of the United Kingdom. Winning groups are announced in the London Gazette
on 2 June each year, the anniversary of the coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II. The award is equivalent to the MBE
and is the highest award that can be made to a voluntary group. The award is managed by the Cabinet Office
.
, as part of her Golden Jubilee speech to the House of Lords
and House of Commons.
The first awards were made in 2003.
Voluntary sector
The voluntary sector or community sector is the sphere of social activity undertaken by organizations that are for non-profit and non-governmental. This sector is also called the third sector, in reference to the public sector and the private sector...
of the United Kingdom. Winning groups are announced in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 2 June each year, the anniversary of the coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
of Queen Elizabeth II. The award is equivalent to the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and is the highest award that can be made to a voluntary group. The award is managed by the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
.
History
The award was announced by The Queen on 30 April 2002, in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth IIGolden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
, as part of her Golden Jubilee speech to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and House of Commons.
The first awards were made in 2003.