Help Queen Consort Camilla to salute the nation's unsung heroes

Help Queen Consort Camilla to salute the nation’s unsung heroes by nominating them for a Coronation Champions Award

Queen Consort will launch a nationwide awards scheme to honour volunteers
Around 500 volunteers will be selected as UK’s official ‘Coronation Champions’
They will get a pin and certificate, and an invite to the coronation celebrations

The Queen Consort launches a nationwide awards scheme today to honour Britain’s unsung army of selfless volunteers, backed by the Daily Mail.

The Coronation Champions Awards, organised by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), will celebrate those who go the extra mile in their communities during this historic year of celebration for the nation.

Her Majesty the Queen Consort praised the ‘Herculean efforts’ of volunteers, 500 of whom will be selected in a nationwide nomination process as the country’s official ‘Coronation Champions’.

The Champions will also get a once-in-a-lifetime invitation for themselves and a guest to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations, such as the headline Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on May 7, or a Coronation garden party.

They will each receive a specially designed pin and signed certificate from the Queen Consort.

The Queen Consort launches a nationwide awards scheme today to honour Britain’s unsung army of selfless volunteers, backed by the Daily Mail.

How to nominate someone for a Coronation Champions Award

1. Identify a volunteer

If you know an outstanding volunteer aged 14 and over, you can nominate them for the Queen Consort’s Coronation Champions Awards.

2. Ask for permission

Before you nominate someone, it’s important to check they are happy for you to do so. For nominees aged 16 or under, you must get their parent/guardian’s permission.

3. Head online to nominate

Go to www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ coronation-champions-awards to find the online form for nominations. There’s also a video by one of the award judges, Dr Eddy Hogg, sharing tips on how to make your nomination stand out.

The form will guide you through the information needed for a nomination, which will include details about your nominee’s involvement in volunteering in the last five years and how they have made a difference.

She 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 element of the Coronation celebrations in tribute to the King’s life of public service, as well as Camilla’s work in fields such as literacy and campaigning against domestic violence.

She is a passionate advocate for volunteering and has described the thousands who give up their time for good causes each week as the ‘backbone’ of Britain.

As president of the RVS since 2012, she hopes the awards scheme will inspire the next generation of volunteers. To that end, nominations are open for anyone over 14, with Young Coronation Champions awards being given to ‘rising stars’ aged between 14 and 18.

To recognise volunteers from a wide variety of causes, the RVS is encouraging nominations in eight award categories: supporting older people; supporting young people and children; crisis and welfare; community; sports, culture, and heritage; health and care; animal welfare; and sustainability and the environment.

The latter has been included in honour of the King’s commitment to environmental causes.

Nominations will be judged on ‘demonstrated impact, initiative, inspiration, and involvement’ in volunteering over the past five years.

They will be reviewed by a panel of volunteering specialists, charity leaders and academics.

RVS chief executive Catherine Johnstone said: ‘Royal Voluntary Service volunteers are among 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.

‘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.’

Michelle Lam who volunteers at Battersea Dogs Home. Michelle is now approaching her 6-year anniversary of volunteering for Battersea and during that time she’s helped care for hundreds of dogs that have come through the charity’s well-known site located in South West London

She said the Coronation was ‘the perfect time’ for the nation to show its appreciation for volunteers

The King and Camilla will be crowned on Saturday, May 6, amid a weekend of celebrations

She said the Coronation was ‘the perfect time’ for the nation to show its appreciation for volunteers, adding: ‘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.’

The King and Camilla will be crowned on Saturday, May 6, amid a weekend of celebrations. Volunteers are being encouraged to take part in The Big Help Out, a day dedicated to volunteering on May 8, Bank Holiday Monday.

The country’s biggest and best-known charities want it to be a tribute to the King’s lifetime of public service, and create a lasting national legacy from the Coronation weekend.

Organised by the Together coalition, the RVS, the Scout Association and other leading organisations, the day is an official Coronation project.

The RVS is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities, supporting the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people.

It delivers the NHS Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England and its volunteers did more than 360,000 shifts at vaccination centres.

It also runs lunch clubs, home libraries, companionship support, home from hospital services and patient transport. Its Virtual Village Hall provides online activities and classes to promote wellbeing.

Nominations for the Coronation Champions Awards close on Sunday, April 2.

To nominate a volunteer, go to www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/coronation-champions-awards.

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