The king’s birthday honours list came out on Friday night and as I scrolled through the list, liked tweets and responded with congratulations I was thinking about all the other awards and honours over the last two weeks, some getting more national press than others. I was also thinking about the awards assessments I am organising for London.
Attending Civil Society Media’s Charity Awards and then the Charity Governance Awards, I felt so proud of our sector seeing the amazing, humbling, heroic and essential work going on across the country and the world. Both these awards are free to enter and I think that makes a difference. Small charities are able to enter, to get the spotlight on them for all the good they do and they get to attend a ceremony and hear the applause. Sometimes we need to hear that applause to see us through the tough times.
Just a few days later a former prime minister’s honours list was announced. I could not muster pride but I did try to see if there was good work I could applaud. As I wrote in Civil Society, his way of working has always made me suspicious and his interactions with me left me feeling humiliated, dirty, and angry. I feel some of that about his list, those that got through the House of Lords Appointments Commission and those that were removed. They have had days that will turn into weeks about their honours. I want to feel amazed and humbled by their achievements.
Quiet contribution to the sector
The king’s first birthday honours was a refreshing return to the spotlight illuminating good work across the country. Listing the names of people we know and admire for all they do in the sector alongside the household celebrities and other professionals excelling in their fields. I share the uneasiness about the retention of “empire” in the name of these honours and hope that will change, but I clap long and loudly for the sector leaders and workers, the (extra)ordinary people doing wonderful things that make people’s lives and places better, that shift the system to be better, that inspire me to do better.
There were two on the list that I felt should have been made dames. Their quiet contribution to the sector is recognised whenever someone asks me: “How do you know x?” The stories that are shared in these encounters always unearth something wonderful, brave and inspiring that they have done that most people have no idea they did. I also know both give of their time and resources personally, way beyond any professional titles or requirements.
King’s upcoming awards
There is another way that the work, and individuals get recognised. These awards do not get the press attention that honours lists and award ceremonies do but they do have the potential to shine a light on people for future lists. Just like the lifetime awards announced in the king’s birthday and new year’s honours, the two king’s awards for our sector are also lifetime awards.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is co-ordinated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and anyone can nominate a charity, group or project that is primarily volunteer-led, delivered and operating locally. The deadline for nominations is 15 September. I now co-ordinate the assessment process for London, just as deputy lieutenants in other counties do across the country. The awards are announced on the king’s actual birthday on 14 November.
Social enterprises, and enterprising charities also have the King’s Award for Enterprise, co-ordinated by the Department for Business and Trade alongside the business sector. The categories are innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. This one is self-nominating and closes on 12 September.
Inspire me, and everyone else, by getting on the king’s awards lists for our work this Small Charity Week.
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