Spelthorne Litter Pickers Group have been awarded the King’s Award for voluntary Service 2024.
News provided by Spelthorne Litter Pickers on Thursday 14th Nov 2024
Spelthorne Litter Pickers, a group of over 1100 volunteers based in the borough of Spelthorne, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The group, formed in 2020, organises volunteers for litter picking events throughout the borough, working closely with Spelthorne Borough Council to help to tackle litter, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. They aim to create a greater sense of involvement and belonging by including children, young people and businesses in voluntary work in the local area. The group enables people to get out of doors, be physically active, and get to know one another through group events, social media and email communication, improving community cohesion and respect for the environment. Its stated aim is to make Spelthorne the cleanest, greenest, borough in the UK.
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 Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and, was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The group work across the borough including Stanwell Moor with active volunteers from our village including Claire Mack.
Representatives of Spelthorne Litter Pickers will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mr Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from Spelthorne Litter Pickers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.