Honours open for groups that make a difference

NOMINATIONS are now open for this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Groups that make a difference to their community are eligible for the award which is described as the MBE for voluntary groups.

To be eligible, nominations should be for a group of two or more people doing voluntary work for three years or more.

They must provide a local service and meet a need for people living in the community, be supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it as well as have significantly benefitted others and demonstrated excellence in volunteering.

Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, said: “Voluntary groups often go above and beyond to help those in need across the county and their hard often goes unnoticed.

“The Queen’s Award gives these selfless groups the recognition they deserve and I would encourage people across Leicestershire to get nominating.”

The groups who receive the award receive a certificate signed by The Queen and a domed glass crystal, presented personally by HM Lord-Lieutenant.

The deadline for nominations is 15 September, 2018.

Those who want to nominate have to be independent of the group they are nominating for.

Nominations can only be made online by visiting http://qavs.direct.gov.uk