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About Points of Light

UK Points of Light

Points of Light are outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. Every week day the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the daily Points of Light award.

First established by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, over 7,000 US daily Points of Light have been recognised through the USA programme. UK Points of Light was developed in partnership with the US programme and launched in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street in April 2014.

Since then hundreds of people have been named Points of Light by the Prime Minister, highlighting an enormous array of innovative and inspirational volunteering across the length and breadth of Britain.

Doing everything from tackling knife crime, to supporting families of dementia patients, our UK Points of Light are fundraising, awareness raising, problem solving heroes who all had an idea they decided to make a reality. Their actions have changed lives and their stories can inspire thousands more to get involved or start their own initiatives.

Find out more about our UK Points of Light.

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Excited PM @David_Cameron has launched UK #pointsoflight. I join him in saluting Britain's volunteers who lift lives.
Great to see @Number10gov launch UK #PointsOfLight - an exciting partnership recognizing outstanding sevice on both sides of the pond. -bo

Commonwealth Points of Light

Commonwealth Points of Light is a continuation of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light programme, with a special series of awards recognising inspirational volunteers throughout the Commonwealth to coincide with the UK hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, April 2018 and serving as the Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth for 2018-2020. These awards have been made by Her Late Majesty The Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, to thank inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond.

One volunteer from each of the Commonwealth countries was recognised in the days leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018. Following the success of this programme, Her Late Majesty The Queen decided to continue this work and award one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week.

The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 54 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Heads of Government meeting brings together leaders from all the 54 member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people. By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Find out further information on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018

The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

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