Recruitment Section

Award criteria

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.

We are now recruiting chairs and members for the two new Committees which will uphold the prestige of the Award and will play central roles in recommending groups to The Queen.

The Specialist Assessment Committee will meet in March 2008, to undertake a rigorous appraisal of nominations for the Award and to make recommendations to the Main Award Committee.

The Main Award Committee 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

• Information for candidates
  - Main award Committee- further information for chair [Word 73KB, 4 pages]
  - Main award Committee- further information for members [Word 70KB, 4 pages]

• Chair
  - Specialist Award Committee- further information for chair [Word 67KB, 6 pages]
  - Specialist Award Committee- application form for chair [Word 68KB, 6 pages]

• Member
  - Specialist Award Committee- further for information for members [Word 70KB, 4 pages]
  - Specialist Award Committee- application form for members [Word 74KB, 4 pages]

• Guidelines
  - Guidelines on the administration and process of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service [PDF 392KB, 23 pages]

How to apply

Main Award committee

Individuals intending to apply for the positions of chair or members of the Main Award Committee are asked to submit a covering letter and two page CV setting out their experiences and suitability against the criteria.

Specialist Award Committee

Individuals intending to apply for the positions of chair or members of the Specialist Award Committee are asked to complete the above application forms.

Covering letters, CV's and completed application forms should be received by 24 November and returned to:

Dot Blackburn,
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,
Office of the Third Sector,
Cabinet Office,
35 Great Smith Street,
London, SW1P 3BQ

Or via email to dot.blackburn@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Interviews will begin in the week commencing 10 December.