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433:) which started with 1 in the NE of England and moved clockwise down the country and back up. Scotland was Region 11 and London Region 12. Each Region had a Regional Administrator who was paid for by the Home Office. Under this each county had a County Organiser and 'staff' and below that were the Centres. During and after the Second World War there were almost 2,000 WVS centres around Great Britain (and in Northern Ireland during the war), each at the sharp end of providing help to their communities. Each was prominently positioned within a town or village and was run by a Centre Organiser appointed by Headquarters in London. Each Centre Organiser had a team of members who were responsible for different aspect of WVS work e.g. evacuation, Training, Food or Clothing. Under their direction were the 'ordinary' members.
585:
804:
521:
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professionalisation of the organisation meant that Centre
Organisers and County and Regional Offices were phased out and the centres were closed. Headquarters which had been in London since 1938 was moved out to Milton Hill House in Oxfordshire in 1997 and by 2004 there were no local or regional centres remaining. The organisation of large areas (usually comprising several counties) and the services within them were taken on by members of staff and local services (such as Meals on Wheels, Darby and Joan clubs or Hospital Shops) were managed independently.
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685:, listing 241 members of the WVS who were killed in the line of duty during WWII, was created by Claire Evans, B.E.M., Irene Base and Roger Powell. Made of vellum and bound in Moroccan leather, it was taken on a three-month tour around British cathedrals, guild halls and museums. An inscription at the end of the list read "Everlasting Father, we commend to thee all those for whom the end of the war is not the end of suffering, the wounded, the homeless, the hungry, the bereaved."
45:
149:
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any hierarchy would not have worked so, while there were no ranks, there were titles. Women were recruited for specific tasks, whether that was to drive ambulances, join in a knitting work party, or to collect
National Savings. Inevitably those women who signed up for one thing often ended up being co-opted for other work, especially if they showed aptitude.
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The WVS Long
Service medal is presented by Royal Voluntary Service on behalf of the King and is awarded to a volunteer after they complete forty duties each year over a period of fifteen years. Holders of the medal qualify for the award of a clasp after each subsequent period of twelve years service.
532:
wardens and firemen fought the fires, women in the WVS set up mobile canteens to keep them refreshed, thus placing themselves in serious physical danger with collapsing buildings a constant threat. When a raid ended, the WVS also played a part in looking after the injured and those who had lost their
825:
When the WVS was awarded the prefix ‘Royal’ in 1966, it was initially decided not to re-name the medal to reflect the new title of the organisation, as it was considered unfair to differentiate between those who had received the medal before 1966 and those after. Some thirty years later, the medal's
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It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the work done by the WVS during the Blitz: the rest centres provided shelter, food, and importantly, sanitation. But working so near to the centre of the bombing inevitably led to casualties. 241 members of the WVS were killed during the Blitz and
425:
The WVS/WRVS was a voluntary organisation, and it was Lady
Reading's vision that there would be no ranks. It was perhaps the only organisation where you could find a Duchess and a charlady working side by side. While many members of the WVS mucked in on pretty much all tasks, an organisation without
794:
The WVS uniform changed very little over the years, the first change was in 1966, when the cut of the suits was altered to make them more fashionable, and then in the 1970s polyesters were introduced. WRVS ceased to be a uniformed organisation in 1998 and today volunteers can wear their own clothes
476:
The WVS played a key part in the evacuation of civilians from urban areas. The WVS had been asked to pinpoint areas of safety and billeting for evacuated children. Moving children out of the cities proved reasonably easy. Getting them to a known area of safety proved a lot more difficult as trains
453:
This structure stayed in place almost unchanged until the Local
Government reorganisations in the 1970s which changed boundaries and led to changes in regional organisation and the amalgamation and closure of some centres as District Councils were introduced. Through the 1990s cost-cutting and the
759:
to be directed by a call-centre run by the RVS to help self-isolating vulnerable and elderly people requiring assistance. The following day, it was announced that more than 400,000 had volunteered. By the end of the week, recruitment to the "NHS Volunteer
Responders" was halted to enable the more
649:
The WVS model proved to be so successful that other countries around the world set up their own versions during the war, with the assistance of the
British WVS. The most successful of these was formed in 1942 in India, especially in Bengal, which had during the war a membership of over 10,000 and
436:
While Centre
Organisers had ultimate control over the work they did in their areas, they were tightly scrutinised by the County and Regional offices and Headquarters. Each Centre had to file a monthly Narrative Report in quadruplicate which allowed both the sharing of good practice and ideas, but
790:
The first free WVS uniform would not be introduced until 1953 when those WVS members who were part of the Civil
Defence Corps were issued with a free dress, beret and overcoat. The uniform was not compulsory, except for those carrying out certain roles (such as manning a mobile canteen) and many
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has a plaque to commemorate the contribution of the WVS during WWII. Retford was on a busy railway junction. The WVS of
Retford used the canteen and rest room to serve almost 2.3 million meals to British and Allied forces between 1940 and 1946, at a rate of over 1,000 meals per day.
592:
Each WVS centre had its own Salvage Officer and Food Leader. The Food Leader did whatever was required at a local level to assist the authorities in the complicated task of food rationing. Educational pamphlets were produced and lectures held. The WVS organised campaigns such as
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and are considered one of the most important documents for social and women's history produced in the 20th century. In addition headquarters issued substantial numbers of circular notices each year informing Organisers of new projects and re-enforcing the rules and regulations.
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It was seen "as the enrolment of women for Air Raid Precaution Services of Local Authorities, to help to bring home to every household what air attack may mean, and to make known to every household what it can do to protect itself and the community."
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The WVS also played a major role in the collection of clothing required for the needy. In October 1939, Lady Reading broadcast to the United States about the need for clothing in the UK. The broadcast led to large quantities of clothing (known as
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did not always arrive at an expected destination or would turn up at a reception point unexpectedly. The WVS is credited with helping to move 1.5 million people (the majority were children) out of cities in the early days of September 1939.
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The WVS began running IIPs (Incident Inquiry Points), places where people came to find out about their loved ones who were in an area that had been bombed in order to free the ARP to work with the fire brigade. The WVS also helped with the
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rockets fell on London. Once again, the WVS played a key role in evacuation. With the success of D-Day, the WVS moved into Europe to support troops there. The first WVS abroad had landed in Italy with the success of the invasion there.
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The Blitz lasted for 57 nights, and the WVS helped a great many people who went to their rest centres. Some people stayed for a night; many stayed for much longer and stretched the resources of the WVS to the limit. In
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The services they now provide are practical services delivered with warmth and care to thousands of older and housebound people every day such as Meals on Wheels, Good Neighbours and community transport.
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In the immediate post war era, the WVS continued to operate as food rationing remained in place. Such was their work, that the new Labour government funded the WVS from central government funds.
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was an especially busy place for feeding returning soldiers before they dispersed—a spit was installed so that meat could be roasted on the spot. The WVS also played a vital part during
406:
functions, the Minister regards the Women's Voluntary Service as occupying ... much the same relationship as that of the women's auxiliary services for the armed forces of the Crown."
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service which delivers hot meals to the housebound. Their mission is "to help people to maintain independence and dignity in their homes and communities, particularly in later life."
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at the outbreak of World War Two. Her wartime diary contains frequent references to her WVS work. Her association with the WVS and its members are a central feature of the
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agreed to become patron of the WVS and in 1966, she awarded the service the honour of adding 'Royal' to its title, it becoming the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.
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471:
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name was changed to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal, this name remaining even after the organisation became the Royal Voluntary Service in 2013.
581:. The WVS did all that it could to assist in the collection of required material for the war effort and also to educate people not to waste what they had.
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The WVS got its first uniform in June 1939 when an overcoat and hat was launched. They and the suit uniform which followed shortly after were designed by
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In 1968, the government dismantled the Civil Defence Corps, to which WRVS had been affiliated, and WRVS was registered as a charity from 16 January 1968.
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Royal Voluntary Service emergency teams provide back-up to the professional services and members of the public in times for major incidents such as the
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787:. The uniform was not free however, and a full suit uniform, coat, hat and scarf cost £9 4s 7d in 1940, about two weeks of the average man's wages.
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in an attempt to modernise its image and in recognition of the fact that 11% of its 60,000 volunteers were men. In 2013, it changed its name to
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The organisation evolved to helping isolated and lonely people, particularly the elderly. They are particularly well known as providers of the
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They also run hospital shops and cafés where any profits are returned to the hospital to improve services for patients, staff and visitors.
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also allowed those in charge to keep tabs on their members. These Narrative reports which were produced from 1938-1992 are inscribed on the
17:
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and flooding crises in July 2007 by running rest centres and providing emergency feeding to members of the public, fire crews and police.
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In 2013 Royal Voluntary Service resurrected the centre model, which are now called 'Hubs' and there are 67 spread across Great Britain.
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376:
632:, the expertise the WVS had in catering was put to use again. The skills learned during the Blitz were again put to good use when the
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496:, members of the WVS were there to greet them and hand out food, drink and warm clothing. The WVS base at the railway station in
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658:, who had become familiar with the WVS in Northampton, England. WVS organisations were also set up in Canada and Australia.
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1265:"NHS Volunteer Responders: 250,000 target smashed with three quarters of a million committing to volunteer"
1240:"NHS volunteer responders: 250,000 target smashed with three quarters of a million committing to volunteer"
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By the time of the Blitz, women in the WVS were adept at providing food and drink around the clock. While
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670:– the campaign medal awarded for home defence – on the same basis as members of the emergency services.
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homes. Records indicate that the WVS dealt with and helped over 10,000 people every night of the Blitz.
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became the organisation's patron, having previously served as its president since December 2012.
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By 1941, one million women belonged to the WVS. Their work did not slacken after the end of the
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from 2004 to 2013) is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need throughout
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which took food to areas in need after a bombing raid. The people who survived the bombing of
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Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War (May 1945).
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Lists of WVS centres up to 1965 can be found on the Royal Voluntary Service website:
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795:(and the organisation badge) or branded work-wear, such as polo shirts and fleeces.
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McMurray, M. 2012. The Women’s Voluntary Service medal, Royal Voluntary Service
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Women of the Women's Voluntary Service run a Mobile Canteen in London, 1941
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announced in the Commons that Queen Elizabeth II had approved the medal.
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To reflect their role during the war, WVS members were eligible for the
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received help from one of the convoys with 14,000 meals being served.
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On 16 May 1938, the British government set out the objectives of the
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1190:"Volunteers to help NHS fight coronavirus | Royal Voluntary Service"
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The WVS was split into 12 Regions (using the same boundaries as the
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1420:. p. 253. Published by Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
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Plaque commemorating the work of the WVS of Retford during WWII
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375:, as a British women's organisation to recruit women into the
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called for 250,000 new volunteers from the general public in
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1215:"Over 400,000 people join NHS army of volunteers in one day"
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members wore WVS overalls or just their membership badge.
1117:"Charity WRVS drops 'women' from its name to attract men"
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was instituted on 23 March 1961, when the Home Secretary
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was started soon after the start of the war in Europe by
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Royal Voluntary Service www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
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Royal Voluntary Service www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
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joined the Women's Voluntary Service in her hometown of
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779:, the famous London couturier, and the thick green/grey
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Evacuation, clothing distribution and returning soldiers
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Civil defence organisations based in the United Kingdom
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By 2015, approximately 35,000 medals had been awarded.
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many more were wounded. 25 WVS offices were destroyed.
472:
Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
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than 750,000 applications to be processed by the RVS.
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In 2004, the organisation's name was changed from the
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Charities for the elderly based in the United Kingdom
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Social welfare charities based in the United Kingdom
1165:"'Your NHS Needs You' – NHS call for volunteer army"
1077:"Campaign Stars and the Defence Medal (Regulations)"
1034:. Calcutta: Longmans Green & Co Ltd. p. 95.
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and distributed from WVS Emergency Clothing Stores.
172:(as the Women's Voluntary Service for Civil Defence)
573:and the devastating toll of merchant ships sunk by
69:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
27:"WRVS" redirects here. For the radio station, see
1325:McMurray, M. 2009. WVS Uniform 1939-1945, page 13
417:began serving as its president in December 1938.
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1012:, South Holland District Council, archived from
1290:"Six months before UK life 'returns to normal'"
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783:from which they were produced was supplied by
1779:United Kingdom home front during World War II
1769:Volunteer organisations in the United Kingdom
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369:England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
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379:(ARP) services to help in the event of War.
34:Voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom
1794:World War II non-governmental organizations
1405:(Supplement). 11 January 2019. p. 327.
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389:Women's Voluntary Service for Civil Defence
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1385:(Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3353.
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1789:1938 establishments in the United Kingdom
1314:McMurray, M. 2009. WRVS Uniform 1939-1945
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129:Learn how and when to remove this message
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963:"Memory of the World – UNESCO in the UK"
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650:continued into the 1950s. In the US the
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492:When troops returned to ports after the
1054:. Seeley Service & Co. p. 54.
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1143:"WRVS becomes Royal Voluntary Service"
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799:Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal
373:Stella Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading
182:Stella Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading
1435:Green Sleeves: The Story of WVS/WRVS
1105:. Crosby, UK. 1951-03-03. p. 3.
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982:Caroline Davies (2 September 2019).
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67:adding citations to reliable sources
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1433:Beauman, Katharine Bentley (1977).
925:. William Heinmann Ltd. p. 13.
850:2006 made-for-TV film dramatisation
652:American Women's Voluntary Services
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24:
1437:. London: Seeley Service & Co.
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1050:Bently-Beauman, Katherine (1978).
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1784:Organizations established in 1938
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747:On 24 March 2020, in response to
413:assumed the role of patron while
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325:Women's Royal Voluntary Service (
1718:American Ambulance Great Britain
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398:In the words of Home Secretary
357:Women's Royal Voluntary Service
54:needs additional citations for
1244:NHS England www.england.nhs.uk
1219:NHS England www.england.nhs.uk
1169:NHS England www.england.nhs.uk
1079:. London: HM Stationery Office
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18:Women's Voluntary Service
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447:Memory of the World Programme
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504:bombings of British cities.
371:. It was founded in 1938 by
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727:Buncefield fuel depot blast
316:Women's Voluntary Service (
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936:McMurray, Matthew (2010).
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645:Overseas WVS organisations
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421:Organisation and structure
349:Women's Voluntary Services
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656:Alice Throckmorton McLean
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921:Graves, Charles (1948).
852:of her wartime diaries.
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508:The WVS during the Blitz
363:) from 1966 to 2004 and
1682:Evacuation of civilians
883:Royal Voluntary Service
753:National Health Service
742:Royal Voluntary Service
595:Salute the Soldier Week
345:Royal Voluntary Service
142:Royal Voluntary Service
1723:Auxiliary Fire Service
1687:Starfish (decoy) sites
1463:The army Hitler forgot
1030:Godden, Rumer (1945).
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599:Wings for Victory Week
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571:Battle of the Atlantic
569:'s bombing raids. The
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236:51.538303°N 3.130287°W
199:Helping people in need
161:; 86 years ago
1738:War Damage Commission
1733:National Fire Service
1728:Civil Defence Service
1713:Anti-Aircraft Command
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723:Hillsborough disaster
683:W.V.S. Roll of Honour
609:Retford train station
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494:evacuation at Dunkirk
485:") being sent by the
355:) from 1938 to 1966;
300:royalvoluntaryservice
1708:Air Raid Precautions
1099:"WVS Roll of Honour"
577:led to shortages in
402:, "as regards their
377:Air Raid Precautions
287:Catherine Johnstone
241:51.538303; -3.130287
63:improve this article
1667:Battle of the Beams
1418:Medal Yearbook 2015
1416:John Mussell (ed).
483:Bundles for Britain
431:Civil Defence Corps
232: /
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1402:The London Gazette
1382:The London Gazette
833:In popular culture
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719:Lockerbie disaster
690:Queen Elizabeth II
628:In the buildup to
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1345:. 23 March 1961
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61:Please help
56:verification
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1629:Southampton
1534:Bournemouth
1397:"No. 62529"
1377:"No. 56878"
1349:10 December
947:10 December
706:Present day
239: /
215:Coordinates
1758:Categories
1624:Sunderland
1604:Nottingham
1589:Manchester
1529:Birmingham
1300:2020-03-30
1275:2020-03-30
1250:2020-03-30
1225:2020-03-30
1200:2020-03-30
1175:2020-03-30
1083:9 February
1061:0854220976
968:2020-04-08
856:References
842:Nella Last
736:to simply
524:WVS poster
441:, part of
411:Queen Mary
383:Objectives
224:51°32′18″N
166:1938-05-16
89:newspapers
1619:Sheffield
1594:Newcastle
1579:Liverpool
1554:Clydebank
1500:The Blitz
1337:"Hansard"
861:Citations
688:In 1952,
567:Luftwaffe
502:the Blitz
336:2004–2013
331:1966–2004
322:1938–1966
275:The Queen
268:President
261:The Queen
227:3°07′49″W
156:Formation
1692:Trekking
1672:Blackout
1614:Plymouth
1609:Nuneaton
1564:Greenock
1559:Coventry
1539:Brighton
1294:BBC News
1121:BBC News
907:Scotland
840:diarist
749:COVID-19
560:Coventry
119:May 2009
1634:Swansea
1599:Norwich
1549:Cardiff
1544:Bristol
1524:Belfast
904:England
785:Harrods
771:Uniform
613:Retford
575:U-boats
295:Website
209:Cardiff
196:Purpose
191:Charity
178:Founder
164: (
103:scholar
29:WRVS-FM
1584:London
1514:Barrow
1149:20 May
1127:20 May
1058:
751:, the
539:Barnes
443:UNESCO
253:Patron
105:
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1574:Leeds
1017:(PDF)
1010:(PDF)
941:(PDF)
910:Wales
888:4 May
630:D-Day
624:D-Day
334:WRVS
110:JSTOR
96:books
1569:Hull
1519:Bath
1351:2015
1151:2013
1129:2013
1085:2019
1056:ISBN
1005:TAKU
1003:HMS
949:2015
890:2024
810:The
738:WRVS
636:and
601:and
365:WRVS
361:WRVS
343:The
327:WRVS
302:.org
82:news
638:V-2
634:V-1
611:in
530:ARP
445:'s
353:WVS
318:WVS
304:.uk
289:CBE
282:CEO
65:by
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