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How to nominate a Shining Star

2022 - we've launched our new recognition programme, Impact Awards, which has replaced Shining Stars. For more information, please visit the MS Society website by clicking this link.

Volunteer recognition is a key priority of our Volunteering Strategy. We want our volunteers to feel appreciated and valued for their contributions and we have a range of ways to say thank you, including our Shining Star award.

See Group Handbook C1: Volunteering with us

  1. Who deserves a Shining Star?
  2. How to nominate a Shining Star
  3. What happens next?
  4. Need support?

Who deserves a Shining Star?

We award Shining Stars to volunteers and groups of volunteers whose outstanding service and achievements exemplify the positive impact we always strive to make within our MS communities.

Here are some examples of volunteer service we award Shining Stars for:

  • Making a significant difference to people living with MS
  • Successfully recruiting and supporting other volunteers
  • Leading or supporting an MS Society group through a challenging time
  • Extraordinary fundraising
  • Implementing an impactful new service, improving the quality of existing services, or delivering an exceptional quality service in a group
  • Successfully leading or supporting a local or national campaign
  • Introducing innovative ways of fundraising, campaigning or providing services

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How to nominate a Shining Star

Any volunteer or staff member can nominate a worthy volunteer or group of volunteers to receive a Shining Star. Read our guide, How to nominate a Shining Star before you submit a nomination.

Please allow a minimum of eight weeks for your nomination to be processed.

  1. See our guidance on How to nominate a Shining Star

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Shining Star nomination form

You can submit a Shining Star nomination in these ways:

Online Nomination Form

The easiest way to submit your Shining Star nomination is to complete our Shining Star Online Nomination Form. Please allow a minimum of eight weeks for your nomination to be processed.

Paper Nomination Form

Alternatively, you can print a copy of our Shining Star Nomination Form or ask our Volunteering Team to send you one. Complete it and post it back to:

Volunteering Team
MS National Centre
372 Edgware Road
London
NW2 6ND

Individual and group nominations

You can use either of our forms to submit a Shining Star nomination for an individual volunteer, or an outstanding group project. If you need to nominate more than 10 volunteers who have taken part in a group project, please contact our Volunteering Team.

If your group nomination is approved, each nominated volunteer will receive a Shining Star lapel pin and a certificate.

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What happens next?

The Shining Star Panel meets every two months to consider nominations. Our Volunteering Team will contact you to let you know when your nomination is due to be considered and again when the decision has been made.

If your nomination was successful, we’ll send the lapel pin/s and certificate/s to the address you have provided and record the award on each volunteer’s record on our database.

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Need support?

Our Volunteering Team is here to support all our volunteers throughout their journey with us.

  1. Get contact details for our Volunteering Team

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