BERKSHIRE charities nominated for this year’s King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 (KAVS) wait to hear which of them will receive a special commendation in November.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and is awarded for life.
At Wokingham Town Hall,The Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mr Andrew Try presented certificates to all 14 of this year’s nominated organisations, drawn from across Berkshire, to recognise their achievement in being put forward to receive the coveted honour.
KAVS was launched in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, and recognises outstanding achievements by groups of volunteers.
Mr Try thanked all of the groups, which provide support and help in many different ways across Berkshire.
He said: “In receiving this nomination, you have been highlighted as an organisation that is valued and appreciated by its community.
“You should all be enormously proud of your organisation and the part that you, as a volunteer, play in its operation.
“Volunteer groups are the glue that hold our communities together and serve the needs that are otherwise left wanting.
“I am sure that all those whom you help are deeply grateful – we as a community are most grateful too.”
Berkshire’s civic dignitaries, Deputy Lieutenants and group nominators joined the Lord Lieutenant to congratulate the organisations.
The groups currently being considered for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 are: Caversham Trents Football Club, Sickle Cell Anaemia charity Cianna’s Smile, Self advocacy group for people with learning disabilities CLASP Wokingham, Crowthorne Good Neighbours, Wokingham sustainable planters Freely Fruity, Slough charity crafters Knit Your Socks Off, drop-in centre Loose Ends Newbury, Newbury Riding for the Disabled Ltd, Newbury Street Pastors, Old Windsor Carnival Committee, Wokingham young people’s charity Soulscape, Thatcham disabled children’s charity Swings & Smiles, Maidenhead essentials support group The Baby Bank (nominated twice), and Thursday Hub (Pangbourne Dementia Friends).
Award winners will be announced on The King’s birthday, on Thursday, 14 November.
For information, visit: www.kavs.dcms.gov.uk, www.cavershamtrents.com, www.ciannassmile.co.uk, www.claspwokingham.org, www.helpyourself.bracknell-forest.gov.uk search for Crowthorne Good Neighbours, www.freelyfruity.org, www.facebook.com search for Knit Your Socks Off, www.looseendsnewbury.org, www.newburyrda.co.uk, www.streetpastors.org, www.facebook.com search for Old Windsor Carnival, www.soulscape.org.uk, www.swingsandsmiles.co.uk, www.thebabybank.org, and www.directory.westberks.gov.uk search for Third Thursday Hub.
