How’s that for a royal seal of approval? King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will sign their names on Coronation Champions certificates
- Couple will jointly sign the historic award being given to incredible volunteers
- Winners will get a special pin and tickets to Coronation Concert or garden party
The King’s signature will now appear on all 500 certificates awarded to winners of the Queen Consort’s Coronation Champions Awards, along with that of his wife.
In a royal first for their reign, the couple will jointly sign the historic award being given to some of the country’s most incredible volunteers by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) as part of the official Coronation celebrations, backed by the Daily Mail.
The winners will also be given a specially designed pin, based on the official Coronation emblem, and tickets to either the Coronation Concert or a garden party as part of their once-in-a-lifetime prize.
Charities and organisations, including the NHS, are being asked to nominate their most dedicated volunteers aged 14 and over for a chance to win an award in eight categories as diverse as mental health, the environment and culture.
The King’s signature will now appear on all 500 certificates awarded to winners of the Queen Consort’s Coronation Champions Awards, along with that of his wife. Pictured: King Charles signs a visitors’ book next to Camilla during a visit of Colchester Castle on March 7
Sarah-Jane Umfreville was nominated for the historic award for her admirable voluntary work
The initiative has been designed to celebrate the many millions who go the extra mile in their communities across the country in this historic year of celebration for the nation.
The winners will be hand-picked by a team of experts after an intensive judging process.
Author and national treasure Jilly Cooper CBE told the Mail of the awards: ‘Thank goodness for our wonderful legions of volunteers who make so many things possible. Heading them is our wonderful Queen Consort who throws her heart, soul and her glorious sense of humour into everything.’
Pop star Sam Ryder, an official Coronation Champions Award Ambassador, added: ‘I love that there is an award category celebrating volunteers who are supporting culture and heritage in this year’s Coronation Champions Awards. It should be widely celebrated how much they do throughout the music industry. There are volunteers in charities that support people through music and help to encourage and connect, who are really special.
‘It would be wicked to see some of the volunteers supporting others through music named as Coronation Champions, so get nominating!’
Author and national treasure Jilly Cooper CBE (pictured at the Oldie of the Year Awards held at Simpson’s In The Strand, London, in 2019) said: ‘Thank goodness for our wonderful legions of volunteers who make so many things possible’
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of the NHS, emphasised to the Mail what a ‘huge contribution’ that volunteers of all ages and backgrounds make.
She said: ‘With more than 300 different types of volunteer role that support the NHS, volunteers offer an extra layer of support to patients and communities which complements the work of our staff.
‘As we mark 75 years of the NHS, the Coronation Champions Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the dedication and compassion of volunteers across the country who are making a huge difference every day.’
CASE STUDY: SARAH-JANE UMFREVILLE
The Ukraine crisis prompted working mother-of-two Sarah-Jane Umfreville to open the doors of her home to a refugee family.
Within months she found herself setting up a support group in her local community of Minehead, Somerset, responsible for more than 50 people.
After a busy day working as a financial services case checker and raising her two young children, Mrs Umfreville, 31, sits down to complete visa and grant applications, deal with emergency housing requests, book flights, do airport pick-ups and run a monthly community meal for guests and hosts.
Sadly she has even had to arrange counselling for families grieving for loved ones who have died fighting the Russian invasion back home.
She explained: ‘I decided to sponsor two Ukraine ladies and it started to spiral from there. I set up a group on Facebook, started to help with visas, sponsors, emergency housing, holding monthly social events. I’ve volunteered for local community projects before, but nothing like this.’ She says that her husband often jokes to her ‘put that phone down!’, but knows how much it has come to mean to her to help to fellow families in need.
‘I can’t quite believe I have been nominated. I cried when I was told. It feels amazing and I’m very shocked because I feel like there are so many more people supporting bigger groups of people and doing more than me,’ she says.
Liubov Baranova is a Ukrainian woman Sarah-Jane volunteers for
‘I just wanted to make sure that these families are ok and have the support they needed. They are all now my friends, so it doesn’t even feel like I’m going out of my way.
‘But it’s lovely that Their Majesties are using the Coronation to thank other people.’
She was nominated by Lynne Wooldridge, via the Daily Mail, who says that Mrs Umfreville always goes ‘above and beyond’ to help – even cooking an amazing Christmas lunch for more than 90 people and arranging for second hand bicycles to be refurbished to help their Ukrainian visitors travel to school and work.
‘Sarah-Jane leads by example. She never stops caring and is available whenever you need her, despite a full-time job and young children,’ she said.
TO NOMINATE A CORONATION CHAMPIONS VOLUNTEER CLICK HERE
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