FIFTEEN voluntary organisations from Oxfordshire are hoping to impress The Queen and win a coveted award.

Helen and Douglas House, Oxford Sailability, the Leys Youth Programme and Dogs for the Disabled are among the voluntary groups which have been nominated for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award is the voluntary sector’s equivalent to the MBE and notoriously difficult to win. Only five groups from Oxfordshire hold the honour.

Winners receive the right to display the Queen’s crown ‘marque’ on their stationery and often see a boost in their funding, as well as increased publicity for their work.

Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson OBE, who heads the working party which vets nominees, said: “The process starts with a nomination, followed by two rigorous inspections and finally the approval of the Queen herself.

“And though it may not be an easy accolade to win, if you do, it is like having the Queen’s seal of good housekeeping for your organisation.”

He thanked the Oxford Mail for encouraging groups to come forward after we featured county winners.

Mr Stevenson said: “Now myself and my team will set about visiting them all, making sure they meet the awards’ strict criteria and generally sending them through hoops before making our recommendations on who should be considered.”

Joanna Mitchell, head of fundraising for Helen and Douglas House, said: “We are delighted to be nominated for this award. Volunteering is absolutely vital for us to be able to continue to provide care for children and young adults.”

Winners of The Queen’s Award also receive a certificate signed by Her Majesty and a domed glass crystal. Representatives also get invitations to royal garden parties.

Previous county winners include homeless charity the Oxford Gatehouse project and HTV Circles, which works with sex offenders living in the community.

HTV Circles operations manager Dominic Williams, who received the award at a special ceremony this month, said he and his team were thrilled with the accolade.

The winners will be announced in June 2011.