The NCVO is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Britain and works to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish.

Should Baroness Tanni accept the nomination, the 43-year-old from Wales would succeed incumbent President Lord Hodgson, who is stepping down after five years in the role.

NCVO members will be invited to appoint her at their Annual General Meeting on November 8 and the body's chairman Martyn Lewis has backed Baroness Tanni as a superb choice.

"I am absolutely delighted that in this Olympic year, NCVO's Board has chosen Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as the next President of NCVO," said Lewis.

"These Olympics and Paralympics have celebrated volunteers more than ever before and have given new impetus and inspiration to the entire volunteering community across the United Kingdom.

"Tanni has played a really great part in that.

"As well as being a redoubtable campaigner, Tanni is already an old friend of NCVO who has inspired emerging leaders as President of the Leadership 20:20 Commission and hundreds of others as a speaker at our events."

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson appeared in the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony where she was flown high across the Olympic Stadium in Stratford

Since retiring from wheelchair racing, Baroness Tanni has served as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords with specialist interest in sport, disability, health and youth development.

She has also been active in speaking out on issues including benefit reform and accessible transport.

She is patron of many charities including Sportsleaders UK and Jane Tomlinson Appeal, and is a trustee of V, the charity that helps young people become volunteers.

She is also a board member of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation and during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, worked as a commentator for the BBC.

She also appeared in the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony, when she was flown high across the Olympic Stadium in Stratford in a racing wheelchair in front of a crowd of 80,000 spectators and a live audience of millions.

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