Kings Award for Voluntary Service for awarded to Staffordshire Training Provider

A community group that has supported thousands of people has received the highest possible accolade that can be given to local voluntary organisations in the UK.

Staffordshire Cares Farming CIC, based in Sudbury, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) for the outstanding difference their Wellies Project has made to people facing long-term mental health challenges.

A major partner of the county council’s Community Learning Service, the Wellies Project has been running for 14 years, supporting thousands of people to have more confidence, develop skills and get into volunteering and even back into the workplace.

Learning through activities such as horticulture, wood and metal work, crafting and cooking, learners and volunteers have created an amazing supportive environment with the help from resident therapy dogs Spike and Fox.

Nick Tucker is the Community Learning Service’s Training and Learning Advisor for the area. He said: “We are really proud to be in partnership with the Wellies Project. It makes such difference and literally saves lives - it’s the power of being together in a non-judgemental space and getting back to simplicity.

“The people at the project just believe in each other, when they hardly believe in themselves. That’s incredibly powerful and it’s a great environment to learn those skills to get you back into enjoying and progressing in life.”

Julie White is co-director and co-creator of the project that has been running for over 14 years.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been given this prestigious award. This is a brilliant accolade for all of our volunteers, with most starting as participants themselves. I’m so proud that all of their work, and bravery, has been recognised too.

"I understand that it was His Majesty the King himself that give us the nod to receive the award, which is just unbelievable.”

Staffordshire’s Community Learning Service and its partners have engaged with over 1,900 people in outreach sessions in the first half of this year alone.