Four Somerset charities receive King's Award for Volunteers

Equivalent to an MBE for individuals, KAVS is the highest award given to voluntary groups in the UK, celebrating outstanding work done by charities.  They are awarded annually on the King's birthday, November 14.

Justin Sargent DL, who oversees the nomination process in Somerset on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant, said: “I am delighted that each of these groups has received the highest recognition for their work in their communities.

“They are four very different organisations, but they all show the extraordinary impact small groups of volunteers can have, making Somerset a better place for everyone. I congratulate them all.

“As well as richly deserved recognition for their hard work, the Kings Awards for Voluntary Service will enhance the reputation of these groups and raise their profile, helping them attract support for their work.”

This year's local recipients are:

Exmoor Community Bus Association

Exmoor Community Bus Association has, for more than 40 years, provided an unusually wide range of lifeline community benefits across an area of remote, very rural and isolated communities in a National Park.

The group of 12 volunteers is supported by the whole community of South Exmoor in forming an essential year-round element of building social inclusion across dispersed and deprived communities of all ages, from frail older people, often with mobility issues, to school-age children, enabling access outside their local area to essential services and opportunities.

Jan Ross, from the Exmoor Community Bus Association, said: “We are absolutely delighted and feel humbled to have received this award. It recognises the work we have been doing for the last 42 years.”

Good Fellowship Club

For 60 years, this volunteer-run club has been a beacon of hope for physically challenged senior citizens in the Yeovil area, offering a unique and vital service that improves the quality of life for its members.

Established in 1965, the club has continued to flourish, entirely supported by a dedicated team of 10 volunteers who are the heart and soul of the organisation. Their tireless commitment ensures that up to 30 elderly members have the opportunities to socialise, engage in stimulating activities, and enhance their mental and physical well-being.

Beryl Garton, from The Good Fellowship Club, said: “Receiving the nomination for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in October 2024 from Yeovil Mayor Andy Kendall was a big surprise, but now receiving the award is really exciting.

“The club is thrilled with the news.  It is a real tribute to the previous volunteers who kept the club going, providing funding for the transport, and will, I hope, enthuse others to carry on running the group, so very necessary for our elderly community here in Yeovil.”

Green Wedmore

Green Wedmore has identified and delivered a range of environmental projects for nearly 20 years. They have reached out to numerous other organisations in the area, as well as being instrumental in the formation of a solar power site, a community farm, a repair cafe, an eel project, a village farm, and a men’s shed. In all of these projects, they have worked with other local organisations.

The services they provide have evolved during the existence of the group to ensure they remain relevant to both the needs and capabilities of the community.

Steve Mewes, Green Wedmore Chair said: “This is a tremendous honour for our group; for all the dozens of people that have helped Green Wedmore over the years.

“For those people who have put up signs, helped on a stall, updated a website, enjoyed a woodland work party, organised a Repair Café or planted a tree, this award is for you. In the climate and nature emergency we are in, helping to build a community will be ever more essential.”

The Thomas Poole Library

The Thomas Poole Library Nether Stowey (TPLNS) is as an innovative community-led initiative and demonstrates how a library can evolve into a vital social and cultural hub.

What sets TPLNS apart is its entirely volunteer-led management structure, the breadth of its community engagement, and its adaptability in addressing local needs.

Unlike any other library in Somerset, TPLNS is wholly managed by volunteers. Though Somerset Council provides book stock and access to the library management system, TPLNS operates independently, guided by a governance framework developed by its trustees.

The scale and sustainability of the library’s volunteer-led approach make it an exemplar, demonstrating how communities can take ownership of vital local amenities
Eliza Sackett, secretary of the Thomas Poole Library, said: “All of us at the library are delighted, grateful and proud to receive a King’s Award for Voluntary Service. We are all thrilled, and so grateful that our efforts have been recognised.”

Recipients of the award will be given a certificate signed by the King and a glass crystal trophy, presented by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, and two representatives of each charity will receive an invitation to a Royal Garden Party.