Glittering ceremony recognises voluntary groups from the West Midlands and Black Country who shine everyday

A KAVS Honour is the only one given to groups of volunteers to recognise the significant contribution they make to their community and the 19 organisations heard of their award on 14 November last year when it was announced as part of The King’s Birthday Honours.

Amongst the organisations are four from Dudley,  three from Sandwell , two covering the Black Country, three from Wolverhampton and four from Birmingham.

The full list of groups from the Express & Star circulation area who received the award is:

Dudley: 

Access In Dudley: Access In Dudley helps people with disabilities to access buildings and services in the area.

The charity has been operating for 20 years and is run by volunteers with disabilities or experience with dealing with disabilities.

They have achieved greater accessibility with numerous initiatives from organising and designing gym equipment in parks, working with the council and Travel West Midlands to redesign ticket machines, interior design, signage and securing a specialist rowing boat at Dudley Rowing Club.

Friends of Saltwells Nature Reserve The volunteers or Friends of Saltwells Nature Reserve not only conserve a site of national environmental importance that people can enjoy in urban Dudley, they also provide inclusive community activities.

The 247-acre site in the heart of Dudley is fully open to the public and runs a range of engaging nature programmes and sustained conservation activities on site.

They have recently added a Ranger and education centre and its environmental and geologist expertise is shared and valued regionally and nationally.

WeLoveCarers Charity: As the name states, the organisation cares for carers and their families creating a culture across Dudley of love and understanding.

By providing a raft of family activities and clubs for those needing care, the group enables the carers to enjoy a little respite and feel they are part of a community that recognises them and their needs.

They use professional psychologists to support their work and have developed new ideas such as the Dudley Siblings and Young Carers group where young carers can voice their views through counselling

Halesowen in Bloom: Halesowen in Bloom is a vibrant community initiative that has transformed the town into a welcoming and enjoyable place to be. The town is full of beautiful floral arrangements with their logo stickers on pots, troughs and lamp posts.

There is an impressive array of blooms and 1,908 hectares of grounds managed by a team that create herbs, fruit and vegetable areas in addition to the many flowers.

The volunteers keep a keen eye on the environment, using upcycled containers for growing vegetables which the public can pick and eat.

There is a real sense of pride and achievement and a vast army of helpers, young and old, get involved.

Sandwell:

In Sandwell, Warley Amateur Boxing Club has a long-standing tradition, with dedicated volunteer coaches and members acting as a hub for boxing enthusiasts for almost nine decades.

In recent years, it has packed an equally impressive punch when it comes to promoting inclusion, nurturing disaffected young people and fostering community cohesion.

The club has positively impacted the lives of countless young people, providing a safe space for youth to channel their energy, learn discipline and build confidence.

Every year, more than half a million people enjoy the natural splendour of Warley Woods’ 100 acres thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers from Warley Woods Community Trust.

They have preserved the woods heritage features while improving environmental interest and projects so rare just a few miles from Birmingham city centre.

The volunteers go way beyond managing a park well.

They have thought about what they and other local people need and creatively come up with and delivered an environmental and extensive calendar of engaging events that draw more people in to take part in many activities, including yoga, golf, walking and running.

Wallace Youth Project: For almost thirty years, from what began as one individual’s struggle to support younger members of her family, the group has evolved to a much-loved and valued resource, providing children, young people and their families with a sense of belonging, purpose and hope.

Volunteers work together to provide a safe and welcoming space for young people against the tough background of the local area.

Young people are given the opportunities to take on leadership roles and are encouraged to explore their passions, talents and interests, ranging from education, sports and arts to entrepreneurship.

Black Country: 

Black Country Mental Health: Black Country Mental Health provides much needed social, mental health support and education services to the local community.

Volunteers help with counselling and a range of initiatives including a female trauma group, walk and talk group, horticulture, Jolly Joggers, Night Groups, Sunday drop in, monthly radio show and outreach to a women’s refuge.

The support offers vital help to so many suffering mental health issues that cannot be provided by the stretched NHS and local authority.

The Black Country Blokes C.I.C. Black Country Blokes supports the mental health of men in the Black Country by providing services through a weekly one-hour podcast, a weekly radio slot on Black Country Radio, daily boxing and fitness classes and “Thought for the Day” on social media.

The organisation evolved from Kevin Dillon’s desire to open a boxing gym where men could open up about their fears and problems.

They offer a unique approach to men’s mental health issues but their approach works and makes talking and connecting accessible.

Wolverhampton

Friends of Di’s Kitchen: Established in 2020 in the memory of Di Henry it delivers meals on a Thursday to anyone in Wolverhampton, who is in need. No means testing is required. 

Volunteers deliver food to over 800 “guests” each week and they also provide extra “treats” on birthdays, Easter and Christmas, especially to children.

The volunteers provide sources of help and there is a great community spirit and satisfaction around helping others

Give Us A Break help over 200 parents in Wolverhampton who have children with severe and complex disabilities.

As the name suggests they provide a raft of support to alleviate the stress and management of family life and, importantly, make families less isolated.

Support can mean organising a taxi to take children to school or organising around 56 events for helping in holiday time and for families to meet each other, and offering advice.

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust: With the NHS so stretched it is heart-warming to hear how a group of volunteers are working with staff to support patients through a raft of help.

For example, there is a Bereavement Hub where people can talk about their loss, a meeting and greeting service for outpatients and help to call round to ensure patients remember to attend their appointments.

There is an Arts in Health programme and a staff well-being hub where staff receive access to a free breakfast and food to help with the cost of living.

Birmingham: 

Agrani Arts and Cultural Society improves the well-being and self-esteem of some ofthose most in need in Aston, Birmingham.

Through a wide range of activities such as gardening and cooking events,community gatherings, day trips, clothing and food sharing, as well as advice and guidance, the many volunteers aim to improve self-confidence and encourage positive mental health through healthy living.

There is also an arts , sports and cultural programme. Through so many activitiesand avenues the volunteers are having a tremendous impact on people’s lives and making the community cohesive and a good place to be.

Grosvenor Road Studios:  This one of the largest recording studios in the Midlands and is a  creative musical hub that changes lives and promotes a cohesive community in wider North Birmingham covering Handsworth and Perry Barr.

The studios were acquired by Black Voices in 2001, having previously been the place where the sound effects for Thunderbirds were made.

It is so much more now than a sound studio. Thanks to the volunteers there are work spaces for creative businesses, a centre for arts training and development and a recently completed woodland and sensory garden behind.

It is used by many people including community choirs, exhibition space for local artists , Saturday and summer schools and is a centre where you can make friends and feel part of something exciting happening.

Shine Nechells Shine stands for Support, Help, Inspire, Nurture and Empower and dedicated volunteers in Nechells have taken this as their mission and are passionately offering an incredible amount of support that is delivered through the Nechells POD.

The POD is a safe haven and the beating heart of the community where each weekday there are clubs and activities, health and well-being workshops, children’s holiday activities, coffee and chat, counselling, Share Shack food bank, carer’s support group, advice drop-in and a job club to list just some of what goes on. It is a safe, welcoming place that makes such a difference to so many and is very much the heart of the community providing opportunities to take up activities, meetpeople and find help all thanks to the volunteers.

Switch Radio Volunteers keep Switch Radio at the heart of the Birmingham and Solihull community, championing their community’s voice, culture and diversity through engaging programmes.

They cover the areas most general broadcasters cannot reach such as local bands ,local sports, education and raise local social issues including knife crime, mental health, substance abuse, loneliness and isolation.

Their brilliance has been noted through many awards over the years and the station strives to do better.

For example, its fund-raising for an outside broadcast van to extend its local sports coverage and setting up a local schools project.

The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands Derrick Anderson CBE said:  “The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a recognition for the many wonderful people who give their precious time to help others, bringing together local communities and improving the quality of so many lives.

" I am grateful for everything they do and impressed by the initiatives and enterprises they have established.“