Winster Village Shop a community shop in Winster, Derbyshire, has just been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023. This is the highest award a Local Voluntary Group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. The award is made for life.

The shop has been community owned since 2005 and plays a key role serving the rural villages of Winster, Elton, Birchover, and Wensley Dale, by providing a local convenience store for villagers and visitors. 18 years on we are open 7 days a week and it’s all run by a team of 40 volunteers, including a Board of Directors, two managers and four part time staff.

Commenting on the award, Alistair Wright Chairman of the Winster Village Shop Association said:

“We are delighted that the impact of the work of the shop has been recognised through this prestigious award. It rightly appreciates the important role of the shop at the heart of the local community and the valued hard work and commitment of our volunteers and staff in making life better for others”.

“Many thanks too to all our many customers who have supported us and have sometimes become volunteers themselves”

Winster Village Shop is only one of 262 local charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups in the UK, to receive the prestigious award this year.  Their work along with others from across the country 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 benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II ‘s Golden Jubilee and following his accession, His Majesty the King emphasised his desire to continue the award. Recipients are announced annually on 14th of November the King’s birthday.

Representatives of Winster Village Shop will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mrs. Elizabeth Fothergill, CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire at an informal presentation in February 2024.

Note to editors.

1. Lord Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
2. This year, there are 262 recipients of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.
3. More information on the recipients in the award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
4. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
5. Nominations for the 2025 Awards will open on the 1st of June 2024.

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