It’s nearly time to recognise the outstanding achievements of volunteers in Oxfordshire!

We are looking forward to hosting our Volunteer Celebration Awards in June but first we need your nominations!

We’re looking for nominations for volunteers and organisations. Details of the categories and criteria can be found below. Nominations open on Wednesday 1st April and close on 30th April.

An independent panel of judges, together with OCVA staff, will review all nominations to decide who will receive the Celebration Awards.

Those selected will be invited to our Volunteer Celebration Event on Wednesday 17th June at Headington Hill Hall, Oxford Brookes.

2025 award winners
Award winners in 2025

2026 Awards and Certificates

Categories for Volunteer Awards

  • Young Volunteer Under 25
  • Long Service Volunteer
  • Volunteer of the Year
  • Oxford Brookes Student Volunteer
  • Voice and Influence Award

For a charity or group, there is one category:

  • Volunteer Organisation of the Year

Full Guidance For Nominating

1. To nominate a volunteer

Guidance on completing forms: 

  • The volunteer must be nominated by a charity or non-profit organisation, including Community Interest Companies Limited by Guarantee.
  • The organisation must deliver services in Oxfordshire.
  • Ensure contact details are correct – including the correct name for the nomination, checking spellings where necessary.
  • There is a 250 word limit on why you are nominating a volunteer. We recommend you aim for 150-250 words.
  • For the long service volunteer award, we suggest volunteers with over 15 years’ service are considered. This category is not judged purely on timeframe but also the impact their volunteering has made.
  • These awards are open to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the organisation or cause.
  • For the Voice and Influence Award we are looking for the volunteer who has made a significant contribution through their efforts in the background. This may be a trustee, fundraiser, letter writer, campaigner, or someone who has made an impact in a non-traditional sense.

    Some of the things you may want to tell us are:

    • Briefly what the charity/non-profit organisation does?
    • The volunteer’s role, what they did and why you are nominating them?
    • What difference did their work make to your cause / projects and what was the outcome?
    • Is there any good practice / learning that can used by other volunteers and charities?

Please note that you can nominate only one person per organisation, per category, for the volunteer awards.

2. To nominate a non-profit organisation/charity for the ‘Volunteer Organisation of the Year’ Award

Guidance on completing forms:

  • This award is for a non-profit organisation/charity which has worked with volunteers and provided ongoing support to them to deliver a service that makes a difference to the community or cause.
  • The organisation must still be operating.
  • There is a 250 word limit on why you are nominating an organisation. We recommend a minimum of 150 words.
  • You can self-nominate, or get someone else to nominate you, including your volunteers.

    Some things you may want to tell us are:

  • Why do you believe the volunteer experience this organisation offers is special?
  • What support did you offer to volunteers? 
  • Consider induction, supervision, motivational communications etc
  • What difference does volunteering make to the project / your beneficiaries?
  • Is there any good practice / learning that can used by other charities?
  • How have you developed or implemented good practice in volunteering? Is there any learning that can be shared with other charities?
Any questions regarding the Awards, please contact Jenny Bowley
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