Coronation celebrations set to honour volunteers

In honour of Their Majesties' service to the country, the awards will celebrate extraordinary volunteers across the country who have contributed to their communities.

The RVS is welcoming nominations of volunteers over the age of 14 who may have overcome adversity or discovered creative ways to support their local communities within the last five years.

The categories for the awards include: supporting older people; supporting young people and children; crisis and welfare; community; sports, culture and heritage; health and care; sustainability and the environment and animal welfare.

A total of 500 volunteers will be chosen as Coronation Champions and will each receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin and a signed certificate from Her Majesty The Queen Consort. There will also be opportunities for some of the Coronation Champions volunteers to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party.

Those organising community events are invited by the Culture Secretary to share how they will celebrate this historic milestone on a digital map. Hosted on the government's Coronation website, the map is designed to encourage people to add their own Coronation Big Lunches, street parties, Big Help Out plans and other Coronation activities so others in the local community can find out about events near them and get involved.

Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Graham Plant, said: "There are so many deserving individuals in our borough and I strongly encourage residents to nominate their Coronation Champion before nominations close on Sunday, April 2."

Events confirmed for the Coronation of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort so far include:

• Saturday, May 6, 2023. The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey.
• Sunday, May 7, 2023. The Coronation Big Lunch - The Eden Project is making available information packs full of ideas, inspiration, top tips and the practical bits to help get your Coronation celebration started. Further details for event organisers can be found online. Please contact Great Yarmouth Borough Council if you would like advice on the process for requesting road closures.
• Sunday, May 7, 2023. A special Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast live from Windsor Castle by the BBC and BBC Studios.
• Monday, May 8, 2023. Members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which is being organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the United Kingdom. The Big Help Out will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation. Further details can be found online

People are also being encouraged to hold their own celebrations as part of the three-day UK bank holiday weekend that forms the centrepiece of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, the National Lottery Community Fund is supporting communities to come together to mark the Coronation. Funding of up to £10,000 is available for Coronation-related events and activities via the National Lottery Awards for All programme. The programme does not have a deadline, but it can take up to 12 weeks from the date of application submission for successful groups to receive funding.