Islanders are being urged to help shine a spotlight on Guernsey’s unsung heroes, as the call for nominations for a prestigious royal award opens next month.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Cripwell, recently met with past recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the Guernsey Branch of the RNLI and prison rehabilitation charity CLIP – to encourage nominations for the next round of honours.
Equivalent to an MBE, The King’s Award is the highest national recognition for voluntary groups.
It has been awarded to 30 charities in the Bailiwick since its launch by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. The next winner will be the first recognised during the reign of King Charles III.
The RNLI’s Jim Le Pelley said receiving the award in 2021 was “a real boost to the whole team”, while CLIP Chairman Iain Stokes said it transformed their charity by increasing visibility, unlocking funding, and enabling expansion.
“The Queen’s Award in 2021 helped to transform CLIP from being a small initiative to its present role at the heart of Guernsey’s prison system, where it contributes to enhanced prisoner rehabilitation through skill-building and qualifications. The Award accelerated CLIP’s development and social contribution by boosting CLIP’s visibility and legitimacy, which helped to attract funding and volunteers. It also enabled the expansion of the charity’s dedicated carpentry workshops, the output of which is reflected in community projects across Guernsey,” he said.
Sir Richard said: “It is without doubt the gold standard of volunteering and to receive it is a truly remarkable achievement.”
He added: “These islands benefit greatly from their strong volunteer spirit… I would encourage anyone who knows of an exceptional local charity to start thinking about submitting a nomination.”
READY TO NOMINATE?
Nominations open on 1 September 2025. Eligible groups must be led by volunteers, involve three or more people, and have been running for at least three years. Winners will be announced on 14 November 2026.
More details can be found here.