To celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, Royal Voluntary Service is launching the Coronation Champions Awards for volunteers.

With the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, a passionate advocate of volunteering and President of Royal Voluntary Service, the awards will recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history. Aiming to celebrate and inspire the next generation of volunteers in particular, nominations are open to people aged 14 and over, with judges on the lookout to recognise rising stars in volunteering as ‘Young Coronation Champions’ (aged 14-18).

Her Majesty The Queen Consort said: “I am delighted to be launching the Coronation Champions Awards with the Royal Voluntary Service, to shine a light on the herculean efforts of our nation’s volunteers.  Up and down the country, millions of unsung heroes are contributing to their local communities, giving generously of their time and their talents to enhance the lives of others.    

“If you know a volunteer who is making a difference, please be sure to share their story. We would love to hear about them!” 

Volunteering has been identified as a key component of the Coronation celebrations. In tribute to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s own public service, the Coronation Champions Awards invite people across the UK to nominate the volunteering heroes in their lives who are going the extra mile to make a difference.

To recognise volunteers from a wide range of causes, Royal Voluntary Service is seeking volunteer nominations in eight award categories, including: supporting older people; supporting young people and children; crisis and welfare; community; sports, culture, and heritage; health and care; sustainability and the environment; and animal welfare. 

A total of 500 volunteers will be selected as the nation’s Coronation Champions and will receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin and a certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen Consort. All 500 Coronation Champions will also be invited to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party.

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: “Royal Voluntary Service volunteers are amongst the millions of big-hearted people who are doing incredible work in their communities, every single day. Together with Her Majesty The Queen Consort we are honouring those remarkable volunteers from all backgrounds, from all over the UK, and from a range of causes, who have made a real difference in recent years. 

“I know from experience that volunteers don’t do what they do for praise or glory, but I also know that they absolutely deserve it. The Coronation is the perfect time for us to come together and really show volunteers just how much we appreciate everything they do for our health and happiness. Be sure to nominate your local heroes, as these awards are a wonderfully exciting opportunity for deserving volunteers to be commended and be part of history in the making.”

As well as receiving the Royal stamp of approval, the awards, which are an official Coronation project, are being backed by big names including Dame Judi Dench, Elaine Paige OBE, Nadiya Hussain MBE, Tom Read Wilson and Felicity Kendal CBE. 

Dame Judi Dench, Coronation Champions Awards supporter, said: “The upcoming Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will be a joyous moment in our nation’s history. The Coronation Champions Awards are not only a fitting tribute to Their Majesties’ own public service, but they are also a superb opportunity to pause and show our appreciation for the people who are achieving marvellous things through volunteering. 

“Throughout my own work with charitable causes, I have seen how the power of volunteering can be invaluable and far-reaching. Therefore, I do sympathise with the award judges, who I predict will have quite a challenge on their hands in identifying Coronation Champions from what will inevitably be some phenomenal nominations.”

Elaine Paige OBE, Coronation Champion Awards Ambassador said: “I’m so excited to be supporting the Coronation Champions Awards to celebrate inspiring volunteers. As a Royal Voluntary Service ambassador, I’ve seen first-hand just how invaluable volunteers are in our communities and I’m looking forward to applauding their great work.”

Nadiya Hussain, Coronation Champions Awards Ambassador said: “The Coronation Champions Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate volunteers who generously give their time to help others. Recognising the positive contribution that volunteers have on our society is so important and I can’t wait to hear the lovely stories from volunteers across the UK.”

Nominations will be reviewed by an expert judging panel made up of volunteering specialists, charity leaders and academics. Nominees will be judged on their demonstrated impact, initiative, inspiration, and involvement in volunteering over the last five years.

Nominations for the Coronation Champions Awards will close on Sunday, April 2. To nominate a volunteer for the Coronation Champions Awards, visit: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/coronation-champions-awards

Those feeling inspired to try volunteering are encouraged to take part in The Big Help Out, a day dedicated to volunteering, on Monday, May 8. Organised by Together Coalition, Royal Voluntary Service, Scouts, and other leading organisations, the day is another official Coronation project aiming to encourage newcomers to volunteering, bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the Coronation weekend.

Royal Voluntary Service is immensely grateful for the generous support of our brand partners Simplyhealth, for supporting the Health and Care category, Sky through its Sky Cares programme, for supporting the Community category and Petplan, for supporting the Animal Welfare category.

 Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people in the community. The charity delivers the NHS Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England, enabled by the GoodSAM app, with volunteers responding to over 2.2 million requests for help to support approximately 200,000 people, and completing over 360,000 shifts at vaccination sites. The charity also works in local communities running home libraries, companionship support, home from hospital services and patient transport. Its Virtual Village Hall provides online activities and classes to promote wellbeing and keep people active.