VOLUNTARY groups throughout Ayrshire and Arran are being urged to put themselves forward for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary service.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen’s coronation and is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award. Full guidance on how to apply and further information is available online at www.qavs.direct.gov.uk.

The closing date this year is September 2.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran John Duncan said: “Whilst a number of voluntary organisations from Ayrshire have received a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in the past there are many other groups worthy of recognition and I hope that nominations will be made on behalf of these groups and the volunteers concerned.”