THIS week the Royal Voluntary Service and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall are launching the Platinum Champions Awards to celebrate the outstanding efforts of volunteers in communities across the nation.
The awards are an official Jubilee project and are being launched in honour of the charity’s Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, during her Platinum Jubilee year celebrating her record-breaking 70 years of service to the nation.
The Platinum Champions Awards will celebrate outstanding volunteers in all communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are making a difference every day.
Together with the charity’s President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, and in partnership with The Big Jubilee Lunch, being co-ordinated from the Eden Project, the awards will celebrate outstanding volunteers across the country who are making a difference every day.
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall said: “I’m so delighted to be launching the Platinum Champions Volunteer Awards alongside Royal Voluntary Service. In honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s 70 years of service, we want to celebrate the outstanding contribution of volunteers. In the search for our Platinum Champions, we want to thank and recognise all of those truly special people that are making a real difference to our communities with their kindness and generosity.
“I hope many of you will share your stories of these local heroes and nominate them for a Platinum Champion Award. I believe it is these volunteers, enhancing the lives of others, that are the backbone of this country. I look forward to seeing our Platinum Champions, and all volunteers, celebrated at The Big Jubilee Lunch this summer.”
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: “Royal Voluntary Service volunteers are amongst the millions of selfless people providing life-transforming support to others all over the country, every day. Through the Platinum Champions Awards, we want to commend volunteers of all ages, from all corners of Britain and from a range of causes for their generosity. Help us to celebrate the amazing difference they are making to the health and happiness of our communities, by nominating a volunteer for a Platinum Champions Award.”
Nominations for the Platinum Champions Awards, which are supported by Royal Voluntary Service’s longstanding partner M&G, will close on Sunday, April 10. To nominate a volunteer for the Platinum Champions Awards, visit: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/platinum-champions-awards/
As well as receiving the Royal stamp of approval, the awards, which are an official Jubilee project, are being backed by big names including Oti Mabuse, Phillip Schofield, Elaine Paige and Felicity Kendal.
BBC’s The One Show and Morning Live are also the official broadcast partners of the awards and will be showcasing some of the stories.
The One Show presenter Alex Jones said: “We love celebrating people doing great things in the community, so we at The One Show are excited to help shine a light on the Platinum Champions. We can’t wait to find out who you nominate and hear about all the amazing work they’ve done.”
The Platinum Champions Awards invite people across Great Britain to nominate the extraordinary volunteers in their communities who are going the extra mile to improve the lives of others. The Royal Voluntary Service is encouraging people to nominate volunteers in one of seven awards categories, including; older people, children, crisis and welfare, community, mental health, physical health, and supporting the NHS and social care.
Entries will be reviewed by an expert judging panel made up of volunteering specialists, charity leaders, academics and charitable famous faces. Nominees will be judged on their impact on the lives of others, their dedication to volunteering and on how much they inspire other people.
A total of 70 volunteers in each of the seven categories will be awarded the Platinum Champions honour and will receive a specially designed Platinum Champions pin and a signed certificate from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. A further 10 outstanding volunteers from each category will be invited to celebrate at an official jubilee event, a special edition of The Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, June 5.
The Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people in the community. The charity has delivered the NHS Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England enabled by the GoodSAM app with volunteers responding to over 2 million requests for help and supporting with over 230,000 shifts at vaccination sites.
The charity has also worked in local communities through the crisis running home libraries, companionship support, home from hospital services and patient transport. Its Virtual Village Hall provides live classes and tutorials on Facebook to promote well-being and keep people active and occupied through the pandemic.