Connecting Chelford receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Connecting Chelford, a group of volunteers based in Chelford, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.

This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

Connecting Chelford provides a voice for our older generation, friendship, support, activities, outings and events aimed at reducing loneliness, encouraging intergenerational opportunities and enhancing health and wellbeing in Chelford and surrounding villages.

Connecting Chelford is one of 232 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a group of dog walkers clearing up their local area in Kincardineshire; a group providing unique flying experiences for people with disabilities in Hampshire. A group providing support to veterans and their families across Welsh Valley communities; a group running a museum and nonprofit railway In Belfast, preserving Northern Ireland's railway heritage.

Representatives of Connecting Chelford will receive the award crystal and certificate from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire Lady Redmond MBE CStJ in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from Connecting Chelford will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Rev. Fiona Robinson, Chair of Connecting Chelford said:

“We are very proud that Connecting Chelford’s work has been recognised. Starting as a befriending project over 7 years ago it has now expanded to offer a multitude of activities to meet the needs of Chelford’s community. All our volunteers go the extra mile and without them Connecting Chelford wouldn’t be the fantastic dynamic organisation that it is today. Everyone involved is so honoured to receive this amazing award and we are overwhelmed by this recognition”

Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.

This year there are 232 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.

More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at:

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

Full details on how to nominate are available at:

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

Nominations for the 2026 award opened on the 1st September.