Agenda item

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships is to provide the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) schemes.

The report of the Head of Locality Partnerships provided the Inner South Community Committee with an update on the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) schemes.

The Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire outlined the following information:

• The West Yorkshire Lieutenancy was an organisation promoting and supporting many civic, faith, voluntary, social and business organisations and activities across the district.
• The awards were equivalent to a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for organisations and voluntary services and, to honour excellent community work and enterprise.
• Elected Ward Members held knowledge of good community and voluntary groups; it was requested that they join up work with the schemes and nominate credible organisations to be considered for the award.
• It was outlined that the nomination and award process were free of charge and Members input will likely only consist of sending one email containing a nomination of an organisation and its contact details.
• Members were asked to bridge the gap for the Lieutenancy to identify organisations that were unknown to the service but were strong community assets.
• The service was responsible for addressing eligibility criteria, which was noted as an organisation being volunteer led and conducting exceptional work.
• Once an organisation had been nominated and assessed to fit the criteria, it was sent to the London branch of the Lieutenancy for consideration. If approved by the London Lieutenancy, two Lieutenants were to attend the organisations premises to complete a full, final assessment.
• The Honours Committee were then set to determine whether to grant the award; it was noted approximately 50% of nominees were given the award.
• The benefits of the award were noted as, permitted use of logos to put on advertisements, being presented with a certificate and glassware from the King, beneficial when applying for grant funding and good publicity through the awards ceremony and local press.
• The KAE was based on excellent enterprise which focused on four categories, innovation, sustainable development, international trade and promoting opportunity through social mobility. This award was retained for threes years, the KAVS for the lifetime of the organisation.

Members discussions included the following points:

• As many notable organisations were under staffing and resource pressures, how onerous the process was for an organisation was queried. In response it was noted nomination required one person’s submission and two letters of support, which were to be submitted online and to consist of around 500 words. Information regarding criteria for the application was then provided and the Lieutenancy were then to start the assessment process.
• The assessment process was to check the organisation was well run and held good governance, safeguarding, insurance and work practises. The physical assessment of the organisations premises was to take no longer than two hours and included conversing with volunteers and trustees.
• The volunteer led criterium was lenient and pro-active, focused on day-to-day management and having paid staff was not a barrier to nomination but volunteers had to hold a management or service direction role to qualify.
• A history of the award in Leeds noted, in 2019, very few organisations were nominated or seemed aware of the award process, in 2021 there were four organisations awarded the KAVS, with more traction gained as more awards were granted in Leeds over 2022, 2023 and significant nominations expected for 2024. Leeds was noted to have a broad cross section of excellent organisations working within a large scope of communities.
• There was no money awarded but the honour and recognition were outlined to assist with applying for funding, displaying the organisation to be beneficial and credible.
• It was outlined that the Lieutenancy wrote to the organisation once they had received their nomination and also notified them once the application had been sent to the London Lieutenancy. Members were mindful to not raise the anticipation of definitely receiving the award and expectations were to be managed. In response it was noted the decision ultimately lay upon the London branch and the Honours Committee and organisations were able to be re-nominated.
• Contact details for the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy were provided as susan.baker@ntlworld.com and 07745 218412 and submissions from Ward Members, the public or any other parties were welcome.
• The Chair thanked the Deputy Lieutenant for her community beneficial work within this role and her previous role as the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire.

 RESOLVED – That the verbal update Members comments, and recommendations regarding the King’s Award for Voluntary Service KAVS) and the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) schemes, be noted.