Scout Groups awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025
We’re so proud that six Scout Groups have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The King's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest possible award for voluntary groups and is the equivalent of an MBE. This year, only 231 organisations received the award, including our six Scout Groups:
- 71st Doncaster Hunafa Scout Group
- 6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group
- 1st Ockendon Cub Scout Pack
- 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group
- BMHC Scout Group
- 1st Cockermouth Scout Group
Three of the Groups spoke to us about earning the award and what it means to them.
BMHC Scout Group (South Manchester District)
Founded in 2014, the BMHC Scout Group has grown into a thriving, inclusive community hub. The Group promotes leadership, teamwork and community service, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and empowering women and young people to contribute positively to society.
Volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours each year to mentoring young people, promoting leadership and teamwork, and building bridges across communities in Greater Manchester.
We are humbled to receive national recognition from His Majesty The King. This award is an incredible honour for our volunteers, families, and young people. It recognises a decade of service in developing young people, empowering women, and strengthening community cohesion. Our volunteers – many of them local women from diverse backgrounds – have been at the heart of this journey, inspiring the next generation to make a difference in their communities. I am grateful to have been part of this Group’s journey from the very start, and I remain committed to supporting the group however I can.
Ashraf Ali MBE FRSA, one of the Founding Trustee of the BMHC Scout Group
71st Doncaster Scout Group
The 71st Doncaster Scout Group is the first established ethnic minority focused youth organisation in Doncaster. Led by passionate and dedicated volunteers, they provide high quality, inclusive activities that build skills for life including confidence, identity, resilience and leadership.
The Group nurture young people who are proud of who they are and where they belong. Beyond weekly sessions, they create meaningful community partnerships and deliver events that bring people together and strengthen cohesion.
Their work empowers young people and their families with the skills, support and pride needed to thrive and lead in Doncaster and beyond.
Representatives of 71st Doncaster Scouts will receive the award crystal and certificate from Dame Hilary Chapman, Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire in the coming months. Also, two volunteers from the Group will join a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
We’re honoured to receive this recognition for our work. This achievement reflects the dedication of our volunteers, the trust and support of our parents and community, and the enthusiasm and talent of the young people we serve. It’s a proud moment for our group and for the communities we represent.
Syed Miah, Group Lead Volunteer
77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group
77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group delivers inclusive, life-changing Scout opportunities for young people with physical and learning disabilities across Glasgow and beyond.
Operating four Sections across the city, the volunteers make sure every young person can enjoy the same adventure you’d find at any Scout group – building confidence, making friends, and creating lifelong memories.
More than 40 volunteers give their time every week to make that possible, adapting activities, maintaining equipment, and providing transport and care. An additional 40 volunteers support weekend camps at the charity’s flagship Glengoyne Lodge and the Group’s week-long summer camp, which this year took place in Carlisle.
This award is the highest honour a volunteer organisation can receive, and it belongs to every single person who gives their time. Week in, week out, our volunteers make sure young people can do things many never thought possible – real adventure, real friendship, real belonging. I see the impact they make on the young people and their families every single week. They don’t do it for recognition, but they deserve it more than anyone I know.
Jamie Seery, Operations Manager of the 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scouts
Congratulations from our Chief Scout and UK Chief Volunteer
I'm so pleased that six Scout Groups have been honoured by our Patron, HM The King with The King's Award for Voluntary Service. The teamwork, values and commitment shown by these Groups is exceptional. They truly show our movement at its best. Well done and thank you to all the young people and volunteers. You've made us all so proud.
Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields
Today, on the birthday of our Patron, HM The King, I’m incredibly proud that six of our Groups have been recognised by The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is an exceptionally rare and prestigious award, and they are particularly deserving recipients. Well done to our volunteers and young people. Your commitment and kindness are an example to us all.
Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Volunteer
More about the award
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.
2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Recipients are announced annually on 14 November, The King’s Birthday.
Nominations are now open for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2026.