The UK’s Highest Award for Volunteer Service
All of us at the Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey, are thrilled, proud, and deeply grateful to announce that we have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025. We are one of only four volunteer groups in Somerset, and 231 across the UK, to receive this prestigious recognition.
Entirely managed and run by volunteers, the library partners with Somerset Council to provide a public library service to Nether Stowey and the surrounding villages. Beyond this, we serve as a vital community hub. We are a Warm, Safe Space, offering a small café, running activities for children and adults, and hosting regular evening talks on a wide range of topics. Recently, we have launched a mini-Arts Festival and established a permanent exhibition celebrating our local environment and heritage. Looking ahead, we are planning further projects, including a mini-Environment Festival and a redesign of our children’s library section. All of this reflects the immense dedication and creativity of our volunteer team, and we are thrilled that their efforts have been recognised in such a meaningful way.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award for volunteer groups in the UK, equivalent to an MBE. It is awarded to organisations that demonstrate outstanding commitment, make a significant impact on their local community, and maintain the highest standards in all they do. Established in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, the award is now continued under King Charles III. Recipients are announced annually on 14 November, the King’s birthday.
As part of the recognition, the library will receive a domed glass crystal trophy and a certificate signed by the King, which will be presented to them in the coming months by the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset. Two volunteers will also be invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2026. Awarded groups may use the official emblem in their materials, provided they continue to uphold the high standards the award celebrates. Nominations are first assessed locally by Lord-Lieutenants before being reviewed nationally by an independent committee, with final approval given by the King.
For us, this reward is the recognition of the tireless work of our volunteers, whose dedication keeps the library vibrant and central to the life of our community. This award inspires us to continue promoting the joys of books and reading while finding new ways to serve and support our growing community. It shines a spotlight on the vital role volunteer-led organisations play in strengthening communities across the UK, and we are honoured to stand among them.
