Calls made to nominate charities for King's Awards

Philippa Stahelin receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the Lieutenant-Governor in 2019 on behalf of Headway Guernsey

Guernsey’s Lieutenant-Governor has called on islanders to nominate local charities to be the first to receive an award from His Majesty The King.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is equivalent to the MBE and the highest national recognition for voluntary organisations.

A total of 30 Bailiwick charities have been recognised with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service since it was first granted in 2003 but the next winner will be the first during the King's reign.

Lt Gen Richard Cripwell said: "It represents the gold standard of volunteering and any group that receives it can be very proud indeed."

He added: "The local voluntary sector touches the lives of so many, both within our islands and beyond.

"It’s built on a spirit of volunteering that is central to our communities and delivers so many valuable services.

"This is an opportunity to recognise those groups that are not only fulfilling that role, but also meeting the very highest standards."

It is 10 years since nominations for the awards have been made directly by members of the public.

Any group of three or more can be nominated but the group must be led by volunteers, rather than paid staff.

They must also provide a specific and direct benefit to the local community.

Other conditions also state the group should have been running for at least three years, with more than half of the people involved having the right to live in the UK or one of the Crown Dependencies.