Archive Website of the UK government

Winners of the 2012 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

The award was created to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002, recognising outstanding contributions by groups of volunteers. For a voluntary group, it is the equivalent of getting an MBE.

The 112 winners include providers of educational opportunities, support and counselling and lifeboat services. The 1,000th recipient is The Blue Apple Theatre Group in Hampshire, whose volunteers bring the personal, social and creative benefits of theatre to performers with learning disabilities.

• Download The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - 2012 winners (PDF, 391K) Opens new window

Former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE, Chair of the Voluntary Service Award Committee, said:

"In this Diamond Jubilee Year the judges have been hugely impressed by the many imaginative ways that volunteers are coming together to help build and sustain the fabric of our society. They are proof that in these difficult times the community spirit is alive and well right across the UK.”

Nominating a group for the Queen's Award

Members of the public nominated 250 groups for the 2012 awards.

If you've been helped by a volunteer group, or know of a group that does good things in your local community that's staffed by volunteers, you can nominate them for next year's awards up to 30 September 2012.

• Nominating a group for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

Further information

• A guide to the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

• Download The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - 2011 winners (PDF, 25K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

More on Cross & Stitch

• Volunteering (home and community section)

• Work experience and volunteering (young people section)

• Guide to volunteering for over 50s (pensions and retirement planning section)

• Charities and community groups (home and community section)