Prescot Festival, a group of volunteers based in Knowsley, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Arts in Prescot is a voluntary community organisation promoting and organising arts, culture and entertainment events in the historic Lancashire town of Prescot, Merseyside. The highlight of its year-round programme is the Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts, which runs for 10 days, starting on the third Friday of June. Earlier in 2025 the Festival celebrated its 21st Birthday.
Prescot Festival is one of 231 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of how such 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 support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The 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 14th November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a group of dog walkers clearing up their local area in Kincardineshire, a group providing unique flying experiences for people with disabilities in Hampshire, a group providing support to veterans and their families across Welsh Valley communities, and a group running a museum in Belfast, preserving Northern Ireland’s railway heritage.
Representatives of Prescot Festival will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mark Blundell, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from
Prescot Festival will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Artistic Director Dr Robert Howard said: “I’m absolutely delighted that our group’s work has been recognised. The Prescot Festival is such a wonderful celebration of music, culture, and community spirit, and this recognition is a tribute to the incredible hard work and dedication of our volunteers, whose passion and commitment bring so much joy to others.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
- This year there are 231 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.
- More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Nominations for the 2026 award opened on the 1st September 2025.
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