Volunteering medal reintroduced by government 5

Governance | Niki May Young | 3 Nov 2011

The British Empire Medal (BEM), which was awarded as part of the Queen's Honours system to British citizens making a difference in their communities until 1992, will be reintroduced in the Diamond Jubilee Honours list in June next year.

Associated with the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the BEM was established in the same year, 1917, and was once known as "the working class gong". It was originally split into two medals - one for exceptional civil service, and one for military gallantry and was awarded to those who did not qualify to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The medal will now be awarded to volunteers, with its reintroduction seen by Downing Street as a way to drive community volunteering, a key component of the government's Big Society agenda. Announcing the reintroduction of the medal, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "There are some really exceptional people who make a real difference to their communities through volunteering and fundraising that should be properly celebrated and recognised.

“We want more people to be part of the Honours system and would encourage communities to nominate the people they know who deserve special recognition for the invaluable work they are doing in our society.”

It is expected there will be around 270 to 300 medals awarded in each Honours round, with those awarded attending the Royal Garden Party. BEM recipients will also be entitled to use the post-nominal letters.

While the medal was taken out of service in the UK, other Commonwealth realms such as the Bahamas and Cook Islands continued to issue the award.

Place a comment

TINA ROBERTS
ADMIN OFFICER
KENT (MARINE) CADET FORCE
11 Jan 2012

I would very much like to know how i would go about nominating someone to receive a bem.
Can you tell me how i can do this please.
Many thanks

[Reply]

Annette Hawkins
Secretary
Friends of Greenfield L.N.R.,Colne.
11 Nov 2011

Interesting that they are bringing back the BEM I was told from childhood that my grandfather, Walter Juler, received the BEM for long service to the Crown, 45 years in the Post Office.After retiring he then did a further five years working at a local hospital for people with mental illnesses.

[Reply]

Douglas Cracknell
8 Nov 2011

A medal for volunteering, fine, but should it be the British Empire Medal? Could it not be, say, The Queen's Medal/Award for Voluntary Service?

[Reply]

Stolen
9 Nov 2011
Response to [Douglas Cracknell ]

Aye.

[Reply]

Stolen
7 Nov 2011

So vain and foolish the man who decides to keep the kind Queen and good commoner apart.

To the Tower and then off with his head.

[Reply]

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