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OTS recruiting for new Queens Award for Voluntary Service committees

The Office of the Third Sector is recruiting chairs and members for two new Committees that will uphold the prestige of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and will play central roles in recommending groups to The Queen.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises groups of individuals who volunteer their time for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to a national honour. Approximately 600 Awards have been made throughout the UK since it was established in 2002.

The two new committees are:

• The Specialist Assessment Committee: This committee will meet in March, to undertake a rigorous appraisal of nominations for the Award and to make recommendations to the Main Award Committee.
• The Main Award Committee: This will be the public face of the Award and its Chair and members will take part in media briefings, as well as reviewing the Award’s overall delivery. Meeting annually in April, the Committee will also consider, and confirm as it sees fit, the recommendations of the Specialist Assessment Committee.

Chairs and members of both committees will have experience of serving on boards and committees at a national level, an understanding of volunteering and the voluntary sector and the ability to analyse information and make sound judgements. These are unpaid positions, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Membership is for three years and members will be expected to read preparatory paperwork before meetings.

Further information and an application form can be downloaded from www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk or telephone the Queens Award team, in the Cabinet Office, on 020 7276 6087.

Applications should be received by 24 November.

• Queens Award for Voluntary Service [external website]
• UK Honours website [external website]