Today, on His Majesty The King’s Birthday, we celebrate the groups across the UK and Crown Dependencies receiving a King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2026 – announced in The Gazette and on Gov.uk.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteering groups in the UK. Equivalent to an MBE, the KAVS is awarded for life – announced annually on the King’s birthday.
A total of 250 volunteer-led groups, whose work creates pathways for people to contribute to support their communities across the United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies, have been recognised with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK and equivalent to an MBE.
Previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the award was established in 2002 to mark Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. His Majesty The King continued the award following his accession, and Their Majesties remain committed to celebrating outstanding volunteering across the country.
Each of the 2026 successful groups will be presented with a crystal award and a certificate bearing His Majesty’s signature by their Lord-Lieutenant at a locally arranged event. Each group will also receive two invitations to attend a Royal Garden Party.
Do you want to explore the recipients in your local area? Take a look at our interactive map to find out more about this year’s King’s Award for Voluntary Service awardees, or our archive of KAVS recipients to see which organisations in your area have won the award previously.
This year we are recognising 250 groups across the the length and breadth of the nation; here are just a few of this year’s well-deserving recipients:
Junior Up-Helly-Aa, Lerwick, Shetland
The Junior Up-Helly-Aa was established in 1956 to introduce young people to, and prepare them for participating in, the main Up-Helly-Aa fire festival. A youth-led holiday festival held annually in Lerwick, Shetland, to showcase the islands’ vibrant Norse heritage to younger generations. Volunteers shared with us what receiving the KAVS means to them and their group:
“Junior Up Helly Aa is more than a viking festival. It is a 12 month youth led tradition that inspires young people to celebrate Shetland’s Norse heritage while developing confidence, creativity and community spirit. Through volunteering, teamwork and leadership, generations of participants have helped keep local culture alive and strengthened connections across the community.”
Clean our Patch CIC, Devon
In Devon, the Clean Our Patch CIC volunteers organise and lead regular clean-ups across urban and rural areas – collecting rubbish from streets, parks, woodlands, waterways, pavements and coastlines
They work with local schools and run ambassador programs to educate children and young people about the environmental impact of single-use plastics and waste. The group was founded to combat social isolation and support mental well-being, bringing together hundreds of local volunteers, across all ages, to foster pride and connection in their neighbourhoods. The volunteers said:
“Clean Our Patch CIC is an amazing group of passionate litter pickers who care about the environment and community. By litter picking they have forged a family of inclusive volunteers that believe in the intrinsic value of everybody. Litter picking has become the tool that brings people together and improves communities.”
Saintfield Community Association, County Down, Northern Ireland
Saintfield Community Association (SCA) is a volunteer-led organisation dedicated to supporting village life, heritage, and well-being in the historic village of Saintfield, County Down.
The association is widely known for running and organising events at the state-of-the-art Saintfield Community Centre on Belfast Road. This modern, carbon-neutral hub is the beating heart of the village, housing a premium indoor 3G sports pitch alongside dance studios and community rooms that keep local sports clubs and fitness classes running year-round. The association runs the Saintfield Community Youth Club, which provides a vital weekend social outlet for local young people.
The SCA is known for its perseverance in local planning, having also successfully spearheaded a 15-year campaign to transform an unused area into Windmill Park, a beautiful three-acre public heritage park that serves as a vital green walking space for families and residents.
Skanda Vale Hospice CIO, Dyfed, Wales
Skanda Vale Hospice CIO offers free palliative and end-of-life care for adults with life-limiting illnesses.
The hospice offers calm, restorative stays with skilled nurses and doctors, improving comfort, confidence and symptom stability, while giving family carers essential breaks. Their presence is vital to the wellbeing of patients across this rural region.
The hospice includes registered nurses who lead clinical care, alongside volunteer cooks, gardeners and companions inspired by the interfaith ethos of the Skanda Vale community.
A full list of 2026 awardees can be viewed here, these groups will be available on our archive from Monday the 16th November 2026.