At Sport Birmingham we know that volunteers are often the backbone of sport and physical activity. Whether this is showcased by major events that come to the city and region, or a local leader in the park helping their community get active and everything in between. We want to help celebrate the outstanding work that volunteers in Birmingham are doing to help the city thrive.
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. This year the award will be hosted on the 14th November marking the King’s Birthday – so there is still time to get nominations in! Click here for more information.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life. We are aware of many great community volunteering organisations, projects and individuals in the city and it would be great to put Birmingham on the map from a voluntary perspective. So check out the link below and get nominating!
Whilst we are not able to nominate a group or organisation, we have been told that the best nominations often come from the community itself, sharing the story from the beneficiaries themselves.
There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to KAVS Awardees, but here are 3 key characteristics that the National Committee are looking for:
- Groups that are truly outstanding and making a big difference to their local community.
- Groups where volunteers, rather than paid staff, are in the driving seat.
- Groups that have the highest standards in everything they do.
Check out some stories below from previous winners to see how you could share the story of your work!