The Lord Provost of Edinburgh presented Space staff and volunteers with the KAVS award crystal and certificate
On 24 April, representatives from Space @ The Broomhouse Hub’s Youth Befriending programme, which matches adult volunteers with young people to help access new opportunities, received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) crystal and certificate during a ceremony at the Edinburgh City Chambers.
The volunteering equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest honour given to local voluntary organisations in the UK; they are awarded for life.
Space staff members and volunteers recently celebrated the accolade during a formal presentation by Robert Aldridge, Rt. Hon. Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh.
Nicola Campbell, Youth Befriending Project Manager at Space, said:
‘Without our wonderful volunteers giving their time and energy and passing on wisdom and skills, there would be no Youth Befriending service. As staff members, we see the difference and impact volunteers make on our young people’s lives. This award is evidence that their work is seen and given the recognition they so deserve.
‘I feel extremely proud and delighted to have the opportunity to show our volunteers how important they are to us and to the young people they work with.’
Space Youth Befriending pairs children aged five to 16 with a befriender to support and encourage them in exploring fresh activities and find new interests and hobbies, with a view to engaging in local youth provision.
Youth Befriending volunteers said of the event at the City Chambers:
‘So proud to be part of this amazing team.’
‘Brilliant evening. Great for the staff and volunteer team to get that recognition for something that’s so important.’
‘What a brilliant evening. A well-deserved award. I feel really proud to be a part of this.’
‘Lovely evening. So happy to be part of an amazing team.’
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.
This marks the second year of KAVS; recipients are announced annually on 14 Nov.—the King’s Birthday.
Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is one of three Edinburgh-based charities—alongside Edinburgh School Uniform Bank and Spartans Community Foundation—to earn the 2024 accolade. Two Space Youth Befriending volunteers will join other recipients at a garden party at Holyrood Palace in July 2025.
Interested in volunteering as a Youth Befriender? Contact Nicola Campbell at youthbefriending@spacescot.org.