The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local communities.
Anyone can nominate a volunteer group for a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Members of groups, volunteers or paid staff cannot however nominate their own group. In order to be nominated, volunteer groups should do work that: 
• provides a service and meets a need for people living in the local community
• is supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it
• is run locally
Any group of two or more people doing volunteering work that is a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award.
Winners of the award receive a certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen and a domed glass crystal. The Lord Lieutenant from the local county presents the certificate and the crystal to winning volunteer groups. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.
For further information about The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/TheQueensAwardforVoluntaryService/index.htm.
For a nomination form, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_181030.pdf
To view the guidance notes, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_181031.pdf.