Nominations open today for the new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 which will honour the efforts of charities that undertake projects at a national level this year.

The Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award is an extension of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the highest recognition for volunteering, with an equivalent status to the UK MBE.

It has been established by the Cabinet Office with the approval of Buckingham Palace. It is the first time that groups which operate at a national level can be nominated, as the existing QAVS applies only to community volunteering at a local level.

This is a significant year for QAVS, which will not only celebrate its tenth anniversary, but will also see the 1,000th recipient announced in the next few months.

Members of the public can nominate a voluntary group or organisation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 from 27 February until midnight on 9 September by visiting: https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/diamond-jubilee.

Scrutiny and judging will take place during October 2012, with winners announced in the autumn.