Winners of the 2023 King's Award for Voluntary Service
The winners of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023 (KAVS) have been announced in a special supplement of The Gazette. We take a closer look at four of this year’s volunteer groups.
What is The King’s Award for Voluntary Service?
The King's Award for Voluntary Service (previously Queen's Award for Voluntary Service) is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups, being equivalent to the MBE. The prestigious award recognises exceptional work done by volunteer groups in their communities.
Winners of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service receive a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal. Up to two representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.
Who won The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2023?
A total of 262 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups from across the UK were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2023:
We take a closer look at four of this year’s winners of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service:
Truby’s Garden Tea Room
A community hub based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Truby’s Garden Tea Room works on several charitable projects which have a special focus on community outreach, including the likes of community sponsorship of refugees and The Great Get Together Iftar, which was first organised in honour of Jo Cox MP’s passing. Notably, Truby’s Garden Tea Room runs an Interfaith Cafe which has become a platform for interfaith community engagement and dialogue.
Volunteers make a wide selection of dishes, from traditional cream teas to serving up food from global cuisines, while the Tea Room also runs events as a platform for music and arts from across different faiths and cultures. Further to their work on the cafe, they run events to inform the community about improving employability, mental health and wellbeing as well as environmental issues.
Stonehaven and District Men’s Shed
Based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Stonehaven and District Men’s Shed is run by a group of fifteen volunteer trustees who aim to debunk the misconceptions of what Scottish Sheds are. They serve all men over the age of 18 and offer opportunities for camaraderie and ways to be an active player in the community.
Activities run by the charity are member-led and include arts and crafts, DIY, woodwork, and cooking. They aim to offer a sense of community to tackle isolation, loneliness and depression and to provide a safe space where men can talk about mental health, emotions and wellbeing.
Cullybackey Community Partnership
With a central focus on helping and engaging the local community, Cullybackey Community Partnership in Cullybackey, Northern Ireland is a community hub that runs various projects such as community classes, events and festivals.
This community hub has transformed the village of Cullybackey, especially in its work on improving the local environment. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of trustees, volunteers, local people and local businesses, Cullybackey has been awarded Award Winning Village in Ulster in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions.
Carmarthen and District Youth Opera
A community hub based and founded in Carmarthen, Wales, the Carmarthen and District Youth Opera beginnings can be traced back to 1979 and Carmarthern’s Further Education Centre youth club, which composed of a small group of volunteers who sought to provide an opportunity for young people in the community to develop and display their artistic talents.
Gaining charity status in 1989, the Carmarthen and District Youth Opera’s platform grew and was able to expand its works of providing young people with the opportunity to develop their skills and talents in music and dramatic arts, including technical roles. They continue to aim to provide high quality and spectacular productions that are value for money.
See also
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
The King’s Awards for Enterprise
Find out more
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (GOV.UK)
Images
Truby’s Garden Tea Room
Truby’s Garden Tea Room
Cullybackey Community Partnership
Publication date
15 November 2023
Any opinion expressed in this article is that of the author and the author alone, and does not necessarily represent that of The Gazette.