Her Majesty The Queen announced on 30th April 2002 the creation of a new, annual Award to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee.

The Award recognises the vital role played by the hundreds of thousands of ‘unsung heroes’ of the voluntary and community world and emphasises the importance of continuing recognition of their work.

The Award covers groups operating in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The number of Awards made each year will be determined by the number and quality of nominations received. Awards are made to groups rather than to individuals.