Previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the award was established in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. His Majesty The King continued the award following his accession.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service honours groups transforming lives through mental health support, youth services, environmental projects and community initiatives.
This year’s recipients include 185 organisations from England, 25 from Scotland, 16 from Northern Ireland and 5 from Wales, with 78% of awards going to groups outside London and the South East.
Groups receiving the award work across mental health, youth development, environmental causes, community support, arts and heritage. Their volunteers work to combat isolation, provide specialist care and strengthen local communities.
This year’s recipients include (a full list of winners can be found at this LINK):
o Megan’s Starr Foundation – a youth mental health charity providing support to young people aged 11-25 in Dyfed, Wales. Projects include the Megan’s Starr Community Coffee House and outreach programmes. Activities include volunteer training in barista skills and mental health awareness, counseling, peer mentoring, and intergenerational projects that address loneliness and empower young people with practical skills.
o Ballymacash Sports Academy (BSA) Ltd – an academy providing a 4G football pitch and community hub building with a gym and recovery suite in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The group also provides access to wellbeing and leisure activities including a community craft group, pocket forest school and garden allotments for the community.
o Northumbria Basketry Group – preserves varieties of willow by planting and harvesting them for basket production in Northumbria. The group hosts workshops for people to learn basket making, helping individuals to learn a new skill and foster a sense of community. The willow they plant prevents river erosion has been used practically, such as fencing for a local school.
o Banff, Macduff & District Men’s Shed – provides a safe environment for men from a wide variety of backgrounds to come together and develop an effective support network in Banffshire, Scotland.
o Side by Side Counselling – provides residents access to safe, free, open ended therapeutic counselling to meet personal needs in Greater Manchester, and
o Guernsey Conservation Volunteers – works to preserve Guernsey’s unique natural environment. The group is restoring biodiversity through their work eradicating invasive species and saving famous and much loved bluebell woods.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 awards on The King’s Award for Voluntary Service website, with applications closing on Monday 1st December 2025.
