Twenty charities across the UK have been recognised by receiving a special Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award.
Charities including the British Youth Council, LGBT Youth Scotland and The Social Mobility Foundation were selected for a one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service that celebrates their work to empower young people.
Other recipients include The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, recognised for its work to help young people build self-belief and resilience, the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade, which helps young Jewish people reach their potential, and The National Young Advocacy Service, which supports children and young people in care.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups.
It was established in 2002 to commemorate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and recognises around 250 volunteer groups across the UK each year.
The awardees of the one-off Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award will be invited to a presentation event in 2023.
Culture secretary Michelle Donelan said: “From Action Tutoring to StreetGames, these 20 charities deliver outstanding work to help give young people the skills they need to grow and succeed. I’m delighted that their contribution is being recognised with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Volunteering Award.
“Ensuring young people get the best possible start in life is a priority for me and the government, and there is no more fitting way to celebrate these brilliant charities than a unique edition of the highest award for voluntary service.”
Sir Martyn Lewis, chair of the QAVS, said: “These awards are a timely acknowledgement of the wide-ranging support and encouragement that is available to young people across the UK.
“They highlight the indispensable role that the voluntary sector plays in targeting help, advice and guidance where it is needed most.
These awards should also be seen as a tribute to the millions of volunteers and donors who, in difficult times, provide the resources of time and money which contribute so powerfully to the social fabric of our country.”
For more information and a full list of the awardees click here.