Oxfordshire winners of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service

A group set up by two 15 year olds to support military children and a community shop set up by villagers in Appleton have received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) this year.

Appleton Community Shop, a not-for-profit shop, café and village social hub, was started in 2000 by a group of villagers in response to the closure of the existing village shop.

Carterton Community College Service Club was established in 2020 by students Kieran Everett and Alfie Crabb. The club provides support to potentially vulnerable children of service personnel, who represent nearly a quarter of school pupils. 

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Marjorie Neasham Glasgow BEM said: “We are delighted that the hard work and dedication of the volunteers at Carterton Community College Service Club and Appleton Community Shop have been recognised by this prestigious award.

"Oxfordshire is extraordinary for so many reasons, chiefly Oxfordshire’s communities which are supported by creative, hard-working volunteers. All of Carterton and Appleton benefit from the work these two KAVS winners give to their communities. They are a credit to our whole county.”

The award was instituted in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and was previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). It is equivalent to an MBE. KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and it is awarded for life.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for such an award. Each group is assessed on the benefit it brings to the local community and its standing within that community.

Anyone wishing to nominate a group for the award next year should visit kavs.dcms.gov.uk and complete the online form. The deadline is 1 December.

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