Volunteer awards and recognition
Honorary Fellowship of BCS
Community Board is responsible for awarding Honorary Fellowship to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the charitable objects of the BCS over an extended period of time. More details on the award and how to nominate someone for consideration can be found here.
Volunteer Awards and Recognition
BCS depends on the good services of its volunteer force of members for many of its activities, enabling it to meet its charter and its charitable objects. These volunteers are IT professionals, many of them chartered, who care enough about the profession and BCS’s role to give their own time to furthering BCS’s aims and fostering relationships with other organisations. Volunteers play many roles within BCS, from its president, trustees, board and committee members, through assessors and accreditors, to the very large ‘front line’ of member group committees who organise events for our members.
BCS recognises its volunteers for their hard work, dedication and achievement on behalf of BCS, through its volunteer awards.
There are two main types of awards for volunteer members - Long Service Awards and ‘Recognition of Appreciation’ awards.
Recognition of Appreciation awards
Recognition of Appreciation - Nomination Form
Recognition of Appreciation - Outline Process
There are three levels of ‘Recognition of Appreciation’ award:
- Certificate of Appreciation – for significant involvements, achievements or benefits to BCS as a direct result of the volunteer’s personal contribution in a single voluntary role, that goes beyond the normal expectations of their role.
- Meritorious Service - for tangible involvements, achievements or benefits to BCS as a direct result of the volunteer’s personal contributions to two or more voluntary roles in different areas of BCS’s work, that goes beyond the normal expectations of their role.
- John Ivinson Award – for significant achievements and benefits to BCS as a direct result of the volunteer’s contributions on a wide scope of BCS’s areas of endeavour, significantly furthering BCS’s strategic aims and mission. Typically this prestigious award would be presented to 1-3 volunteers per year.
Please nominate deserving individuals
It is important that deserving voluntary service is recognised. If you are aware of someone who warrants one of these awards, then please nominate them. It is easy to nominate someone, but, if you are unsure about completing the form, the Community team and/or your liaison in the Programme, Practice and Policy Committee can help.
Applications are submitted to the Community Team at groups@bcs.uk
Long service awards
The long service awards were introduced in 2009, by the Branch Management Committee. The intention was to recognise and reward length of service of a volunteer irrespective of the nature of that voluntary service, and the awards were designed to sit alongside the ‘Recognition of Appreciation’ awards. Please contact the Community team for further information on groups@bcs.uk
The table below summarises the long service awards:
| No of Years | Award | How and where presented |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Years | Bronze lapel pin | At a local branch / SG / committee meeting, or posted to the volunteer |
| 10 Years | Silver lapel pin | At a local branch / SG / committee meeting, or posted to the volunteer. |
| 25 Years | Gold lapel pin | Ideally presented by the president or deputy president’ or other honorary officer or dignitary at a suitable event |
| 30+ Years | Framed certificate signed by the president |
Applications for Long Service Awards are submitted to the Community Team at groups@bcs.uk
