There is a whole range of awards set up for the voluntary sector/those involved in it, but some are only available for registered charities. It is pretty rare that there is an entry fee. The entry or nomination procedure can be quite time consuming however, collating information and providing a well-written case. Given that who enters and judging criteria can be rather arbitrary, receiving an award (in our view) has limited meaning. But others will disagree, and cash or other tangible prizes can be very useful.

Dates, shown as launch/closing dates, are rough and often based on historic pattern. These, plus categories, prizes, criteria etc, may change.

• Alcan Prize for Sustainability recognises not-for-profit organisations for contributions to economic, environmental and/or social sustainability. Jan/31st March.

• Arts & Business Awards recognise excellence in business engagement with the arts - so not actually a charity award! ?/August.

• 'Associations Make A Better World' Run by American Society of Association Executives, but international entries accepted. ?/July? (dates may vary)

• Beacon Prize celebrates individuals who have made exceptional contributions to charity through giving money or by providing leadership, creative ideas, skills or time without personal reward. May/July.

• Bob Cotton Citizenship Award for individuals who have made a meaningful contribution to their community. Was run by Unison, the public services union, but at summer 2008 information has disappeared. Feb/mid April.

• Business Enterprise Awards, in association with International Association of Book-keepers, in 2004 included Treasurer of the year and Social Entrepreneur of the year. October?/Feb.

• Business in the Community Awards for Excellence. Various categories around collaborating with business to benefit society. December/March.

• Care Accolades recognise good practice and innovation in social services in Scotland (if link is out-of-date, try SSSC web site), November/February. Also in Wales, Social Care Accolades - Jan?/April.

• CHANGEit recognises the achievements and ambitions of young campaigners, between 11 and 18. Run by Common Purpose, there are two categories, Innovation (for ideas with potential) and Performance (for achievements), both with a £750 prize. Early autumn/?

• Charity Awards from Charity Finance. December/March.

• Charity Times Awards from Charity Times. February/June.

• Guardian Charity Awards. Open to registered charities with an income of less than £1 million, to recognise "truly outstanding" contribution to communities and society. Late March/late June.

• Charities' Online Finanlcial Reporting Awards run by ICAEW looks at the quality of web based annual reports. £2,000 prizes in 4 size categories. March/June.

• Children and Young People's Services Awards from Haymarket in association with Children's Workforce Development Council. Various categories open to voluntary organisations to enter. Second year 2007. ?/July.

• Community Foundation for Northern Ireland's Community Awards celebrate outstanding achievements of groups and individuals working in the community and voluntary sector. November.

• Calor Village of the Year - now just for Northern Ireland?, for community councils and community improvement organisations. March/June.

• Fundraising Awards from Institute of Fundraising. Dec/March.

• GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Awards run by King's Fund. Open to community healthcare charities operating for at least three years, annual budget less than £750,000. Ten awards of £20,000, plus £10,000 to overall winner and up to 10 highly commended awards of £5,000. July/September.

• HR Excellence Awards have a 'public or voluntary sector' category. Run by Haymarket's HR magazine. Entry fee is a few hundred pounds. December?/early April?

• iT4Communities Volunteer Awards. Categories include Best IT Volunteering Project (Innovation, Impact, or Accessible), Best Charity for IT Volunteering. August/October.

• Leading Wales Award for personal achievement in outstanding leadership and management in Wales. Has a voluntary organisations category. ?/November.

• Nationwide Community & Heritage Awards (was Awards for Voluntary Endeavour) recognises individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to their local community. National top prize of £2,500, smaller awards regionally. ?/April. We can't find info at May 2009, but try main Nationwide site.

• New Media Age, Effectiveness Awards. Charities & Voluntary Sector category recognises work done in interactive media to generate awareness or raise funds for charities. Entry fee around £100. ?/January

• Award Scheme for Outstanding Management of Volunteers (for those working in Scotland) from Scottish Association of Volunteers Managers has probably ended, at summer 08.

• Partners in Volunteering (Volunteer Development Scotland) seems to have finished (Sept 05). It recognised the best examples of volunteering partnerships between business and communities in Scotland: Best Ongoing Partnership, Best Newcomer, Best Small Business and Best Broker. ?/Sept

• Philip Lawrence Awards, managed by 4Children but disappeared on website at May 2010, recognise outstanding achievements by groups of young people aged 11 to 20 in advancing citizenship amongst their communities. June/Sept.

• Popcomm Publishing Awards. You have to pay to enter these, and more to receive feedback from the judges, with no financial prize. Categories include annual report, newsletter, magazine, web site. October/early January.

• Public Sector Digital Awards may have an approriate categvory for voluntary sector organisations which have worked in some area of e-Government services. July/October.

• Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (or alternative Directgov link) recognises outstanding commitment and contribution to local communities by groups of volunteers. June/September.

• Schwab Foundation's Social Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards were in the UK in 2007, but have gone again for the moment. There are other country versions around the world.

• Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) Awards for Best Practice in Urban Regeneration. May/Sept.

• The Guardian Social Entrepreneurship Awards, run with UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs. May/June.

• Social Change Awards from Directory of Social Change July/October. Individuals and organisations other than charities can also enter - Everyday Impact Award, the Influencer Award, Investing in Social Change Award and the Public Body Award (as at 2008).

• Third Sector Excellence Awards, from Third Sector Magazine (part of Haymarket). ?/June.

• Wales Volunteer of the Year Award, Dec/March.

• Wessex Charity Awards, new 2008. Recognising the achievements of south coast charities and their staff. The awards are open to any charity or not-for-profit organisation operating in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex and West Surrey. August/October.

• Young Achievers Volunteering by 16 to 25 year olds in community, environment, arts or sport. For England based volunteers. October/December. (Was Whitbread Young Achievers)