King’s Award for Voluntary Service Nominees Reception

On Tuesday 15^th July, The Lord-Lieutenant hosted The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025 Nominees reception at Loseley Park.

This year there are Fifteen nominated groups in Surrey and the evening also included a group from Greater London:

Groups nominated are:

Artventure

Artventure Trust is a charity that provides visual art sessions for adults with learning disabilities and special needs in a safe and fun environment, in our two studios at St Peter’s School and Gosden House School in Guildford. Participants are invited to explore all areas of the visual arts supported by a team of dedicated artworkers and volunteers. Their sessions are designed to improve self-expression and encourage a greater sense of self-worth. Sessions run from 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday, school term time. For more information please visit www.art-venture.co.uk  or set up a free trial session by emailing manager@art-venture.co.uk 

Banstead Village in Bloom

Weekly since 2016, their volunteers maintain and develop the floral displays in the High Street, Library Gardens, All Saints Church Grounds and in Lady Neville Park – the quality of which has been recognised by the RHS when awarding them a Gold Certificate in the National Village in Bloom Competition. Their planters, flower beds, sensory gardens and oversized wheelbarrows, are supplemented by weekly litter picking across Banstead Village, and by repairing and replacing benches. Volunteers are frequently stopped and thanked for their work by residents, shop keepers and visitors. The group have developed partnerships within the Community to support, fund and continue our work.

Camberley Care Trust

Founded over 50 years ago, their aim is to support independent living for the elderly and vulnerable in the Camberley & Frimley area (Surrey). They offer safe, affordable private transport provided by vetted volunteer drivers using their own cars. This can be for medical, social or personal appointments. They do almost 250 trips every month. They also offer a subsidised handyperson service. Vetted handymen provide a reliable, safe and low-cost service tackling a variety of small DIY jobs like fitting grabrails, changing a light fitting, fitting a mirror or changing a tap.

Camberley Nepalese Gurkha Association

CNGA promotes Social Inclusion among Nepalese and Gurkha veterans and their families in Camberley who are socially excluded from society due to limited English language skills, ill-health and old age, through education and training in the English language and the provision of recreational facilities and events involving the local community. 

It also promotes and protects the health of the general public through health education and fitness activities and provides relief to those in need by reason of old age, ill-health, disability and financial hardship, primarily through the provision of practical advice and support and signposting to other organisations when appropriate.

Cranleigh Arts Centre

Cranleigh Arts Centre is led and run by volunteers providing a wide range of cultural services to the community over the 50 years since its inception.

The Arts Centre provides a regular programme of live music of all genres, theatre, cinema, comedy, children’s events, workshops, open mics and a wide range of talks.  In addition, there is always an exhibition of the works of local painters, sculptors, potters and jewellery makers.

The Centre also provides a well-used meeting point for a wide range of local residents and visitors, including University of the Third Age (U3A) groups, the local community choir, yoga classes and the Surrey Theatre Group. The Gallery is used for regular art exhibitions and children’s craft events, a craft shop and a dedicated area used for ceramics. The Centre also has a tea bar, café and bar.

As part of its service to the community, the Arts Centre presents free lunchtime classical concerts; offers free exhibition space to some charities; and gives over the whole building for regular free events called “Memory Lane” for those affected by dementia.  

Epsom Repair Café

Epsom Repair Café founded as a registered charity in 2019.  Formed to encourage and educate the local community, in a friendly café atmosphere, they offer at no cost, repair and maintenance to broken everyday household items rather than them be disposed and replaced.  This helps reduce landfill and CO2 emissions and at the same time helps their customers better use of their family income. It also harnesses the experience of their volunteer repairers, many of whom are retired, to pass on their skills and practices to a generation that have been encouraged by manufacturers to replace rather than repair.

Ewhurst Secret Gardens

Ewhurst Secret Gardens was started by a local resident in 1995 to raise funds for the village school (Ewhurst CE Infant School) when its numbers were dropping dangerously low.  Not only had this positive implications for the children themselves, but also for the social well-being of the village – it managed to maintain a state school for younger children locally.

ESG has arranged for the opening of over 103 gardens in the village and has raised more than £80,000. ESG’s work, improves social cohesion within the village.  Ewhurst has over 2,300 residents – of all ages – and with increased pressures on people’s time, contact between those residents has inevitably diminished over the last few years.  ESG seeks to reverse this process by involving all sorts of people in organising and then supporting the opening of the nine selected gardens each year.  Over 590 people enjoy visiting the gardens, and many more get involved in growing plants, baking cakes, publicising and running the events.

Friends of Albury Old Saxon Church

Since 1974 the Friends of Albury Old Saxon Church volunteer group has revitalised a unique, Grade1 listed, historic building through day-to-day management and dedicated community outreach. The building’s heritage is preserved for future generations by raising the funds for autonomous conservation and restoration projects. The group also organise a varied range of events and cultural festivals which foster local and international engagement. Fresh floral displays, as well as a regularly restocked publications table and comprehensive information display boards, enhance the visitor experience. Through strategic collaboration they have transformed a neglected, at-risk, building into a vibrant cultural landmark.

Hale Community and Youth Centre

Since 1998, the Hale Community and Youth Centre has been more than just a building; it’s been a catalyst for positive change. It stands as a testament to the power of resident and partner involvement, fostering countless activities and improvements. They are committed to remaining at the forefront, continually providing vital opportunities for everyone in Hale and the surrounding areas. Hale Community and Youth Centre (the Centre) is a community hub for all who live in Hale and particularly those on the Sandy Hill Estate.  They provide a warm and welcoming space and offer a wide variety of services including, a community fridge and cupboard, “Stay-and-play” sessions for parents with pre-school aged children, Slow cooking lessons, Community fitness sessions, strength and stability classes for older residents, Family gardening club, Art club, clothing bank, and advice services, to name a few. 

Phoenix Cultural Centre

The Phoenix Cultural Centre is a volunteer-led community venue that provides live music, arts, and cultural opportunities in Woking. It is a collaborative effort of the community to create a non-affiliated space where everyone can rise. This inclusive venue encourages new activities and supports the initiatives of community members and groups, amplifying their impact.

It hosts performances from touring musicians across all genres, offers a platform for local original artists, and runs poetry readings, art exhibitions and creative workshops.  The Centre also provides training, work experience, and employment opportunities in the creative industries, hospitality and community work.

space2grow

space2grow is located in central Farnham in Surrey and offers local people the opportunity to connect with others in the great outdoors, through horticulture and conversation. The emphasis is on enabling people to reconnect with nature, each other and themselves. Historically known as Bet Meadow, the space was originally a collection of allotments used by the local community. The land was bought in the 1980’s and owned as a private garden for 30 years but is now once more being used for the benefit for the local community. They offer group activities across generational and socio-economic divides in the beautiful outdoor space (and in a big indoor ‘talking shed’), for a huge variety of individuals, schools and community groups, all of whom live locally.

Spelthorne Dementia Support

Are a small group of local volunteers who make a positive difference to the quality of life of people living with dementia and also their carers and families. They are part of Purple Angels, a global organisation raising awareness about Dementia in local shops, schools and businesses. Their aim is to improve the general understanding of dementia so that local people living with the condition receive sympathetic support from the wider community while still living in their homes. SDS – Spelthorne Dementia Support is a local charity, covering mainly the borough of Spelthorne. They offer support for people living with Dementia and their families and/or carers. Their services are free and include: Memory Café, Coffee Mornings for carers, Day Trips, Dementia Training, Buddy Scheme and a choir. 

Surplus to Supper

Surplus to Supper collects surplus food, which would otherwise be heading to landfill, from local retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and caterers. They address food waste by redistributing surplus food to local charities, ensuring it reaches those in need. Their kitchen initiative transforms surplus ingredients into nutritious meals for vulnerable individuals, offering vital support to the community. Additionally, they operate a weekend market where food donations from supermarkets are provided, preventing waste and offering affordable food options to the public. They also provide catering services for various events, using these opportunities to support their mission financially and raise awareness about the importance of reducing food waste. Through these efforts, they strive to create a sustainable and supportive community.

The National Honey Show

The National Honey Show is the largest honey show and beekeeping convention in the world with spectacular show benches featuring over 2,500 entries covering, honey, beeswax, mead and other hive products. Every year we invite leading speakers to give lectures.  We also have a series of practical workshops and a large trade hall. In its 102 year history the show has always been Surrey based and run by local volunteers so it is very much a part of Surrey DNA.  

This year’s show will be at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher from 23rd to 25th October.

Voluntary Support North Surrey

Voluntary Support North Surrey (VSNS) is an independent charity that supports approximately 1,500 voluntary and community organisations within the three boroughs of Runnymede, Spelthorne and Surrey Heath and their 300,000 residents. VSNS is critical in assessing and understanding local need.  Its key role is to recruit volunteers (both individuals and businesses) to local charities and to operate drop-in community hubs.  VSNS identifies gaps in local services and creates its own volunteer-run schemes to address these unmet needs, specifically combatting loneliness and related difficulties. They provide expert advice and direct support to charities and community groups needing help with fundraising and income generation. They have a deep understanding of the local area and sector, and can support you through every step, from developing your project proposal, to searching for funders and writing grant applications. They can also support with developing your fundraising strategy and diversifying your income.

 Sutton Vision (Greater London)

Established in 1965, Sutton Vision is a local sight loss charity which seeks to enable and empower blind and partially sighted people to live full and independent lives. They provide information and advice, emotional support, outreach, social activities, peer support, low vision clinic, resource hub and assistive technology service from their accessible building in the town centre. Their services are led and delivered by people with lived experience of visual impairment and are open to anyone living with sight loss over the age of 18, their carers, family and friends.

The evening was also attended by The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Mary Creswell, The High Sheriff, Mr Peter Cluff, The Chairman of Surrey County Council, Mr Tim Hall  , The King’s Award for Voluntary Service Surrey panel, and the nominators and volunteers from all nominated groups.

If you would like to nominate a group on Surrey for next years King’s Award for Voluntary Service, please visit https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/make-a-nomination/about-nominating/