Winners of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service will be honoured today for their contribution to their local communities.

This year there were 130 winners selected from the 413 organisations nominated by the public.

Winners included a London-based children’s performing arts mentoring programme, a Fife museum conserving historic boats and a Glastonbury scheme helping the long-term unemployed to find work.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants will present winners with a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal at ceremonies around the country. Winners have also been invited to a summer garden party at either Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The committee chair and former broadcast journalist, Martyn Lewis CBE said: “In these difficult times their efforts have been even more valuable. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service helps all of us recognise the benefits those winning groups brink to others’ lives, while celebrating their achievement.”

Since the Award was launched for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 their have been 980 winners.

The Award is overseen by the Office for Civil Society. Nick Hurd, minister for civil society congratulated the recipients, saying: “They are an inspiration to us all.”

 

>>The full list of 2011 winners can be found here<<