Six outstanding voluntary groups in Leicestershire have been presented with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The awards – which hold the same value as an MBE and acknowledge the remarkable efforts of volunteer groups in their communities – were presented to the recipients by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mr Mike Kapur OBE.
Each of the six groups were nominated by the public of Leicester and Leicestershire, and their success was announced on 14th November 2023, the King’s Birthday. The winning recipients were each visited by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, who held individual ceremonies to present them with their King’s Award.
They are:
103TheEye is a community-run radio station which has been broadcasts 24/7 across Melton Mowbray for 18 years. It is entirely volunteer- run and was the first community radio station in the UK is a pioneer in the community radio space. The station also runs training programmes for young people to learn about radio broadcasting.
Heartwize, based in Leicester, has been recognised for its efforts in increasing public awareness of the problem of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It aims to create a ‘generation of lifesavers’ by offering training on CPR and use of AED (Automated External Defibrillators) defibrillators to all Year 10 pupils across Leicestershire.
Bosworth In Bloom has been committed to creating stunning floral displays since 1985 to boost local pride and create a beautiful, clean and welcoming environment for residents and visitors. They also encourage young people to get involved in growing plants and flowers, which not only helps their mental health and teaches them new skills, but also fosters a greater understanding of sustainability and environmentalism.
Market Bosworth Community Library is a community hub which provides a welcoming and safe environment in which to deliver library services, resources & activities to benefit the surrounding rural community. Volunteers contribute over 200 hours a month to ensure the community library can serve more than 2,000 people.
Swannington Heritage Trust has been rewarded for its efforts in transforming and preserving five industrial sites, including the Hough Mill, a restored 1790s corn mill. The Trust is also recognised for its work in researching and archiving records and artefacts for future generations to learn about Leicester’s history.
Shree Jalaram Prarthana Mandal-Jalaram Mandir and Jalaram Community Centre Leicester have also received recognition for their efforts in supporting the local community through an incredible breadth of initiatives, from helping the homeless, raising money for other charities, and distributing food to those in need.
As Lord-Lieutenant, I visit a large number of community organisation in Leicester and Leicestershire, and I never cease to be amazed at the quality and range of services and support these groups are providing within their local communities and beyond.
Although diverse in their nature, what is a common feature is that these organisations rely so much on the voluntary efforts of those people who work tirelessly for the benefit of others.
I am delighted that in the inaugural year of the King’s Awards for Voluntary Service, so many of Leicestershire’s wonderful voluntary groups have received the recognition they deserve. The awards are a fitting tribute to their compassion, dedication, and selflessness in helping others.
Person:Mike Kapur OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire
Leicestershire’s winners are among 262 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups from across the UK and Channel Islands to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. They are equivalent to an MBE for voluntary groups. Formerly, these awards were known as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Recipients are announced each year on 14 November, the King’s Birthday.
More information on the recipients and the Award, as well as details on how to nominate a groups or organisation, can be found at on the King's Award for Voluntary Service website.
Nominations for the 2025 awards will reopen in June 2024.