News from our partners Oswestry Borderland Tourism Ltd
Oswestry Borderland Tourism Ltd, a group of volunteers based in Oswestry, Shropshire have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The Kings Award for Voluntary Service logo
Oswestry Borderland Tourism (or Visit Oswestry as it is better known) has been working with volunteers to promote Oswestry and the Borderlands as a great place to visit for over 40 years. Oswestry’s Tourist Information Centre in Oswestry Town market is run by Visit Oswestry. The group also creates the Oswestry Tourism ambassador Scheme, prints over 50,000 free town maps and creates VisitOswestry.co.uk and social media @OswestryTourism.
Oswestry Borderland Tourism volunteers
Oswestry Borderland Tourism is one of only 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award in 2024. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways 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 Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and, was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2024 marks the second 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 mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire; a group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales; volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling and an organisation providing a opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.
Representatives of Oswestry Borderland Tourism will receive the award crystal and certificate from Anna Turner Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire. In addition, two volunteers from Oswestry Borderland Tourism will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Chairman, Lee Lucks said:
“I am so thrilled that our group’s work has been recognised with the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. Many people will be surprised that Oswestry Borderland Tourism is a volunteer led organisation. All the board directors are volunteers, and we also have an enthusiastic group of volunteers who take the popular guided walks around Oswestry and help out in the Tourist Information Centre.”
Vice Chairman, Graham Mitchell went on to say:
“We believe that we are the only tourism organisation to be recognised with the award. We are delighted that the work we do to bring new visitors and support local businesses has been recognised. Oswestry is such a great place to visit and our aim is to bring a wealth of new and returning visitors in years to come.”
Notes to editors
For further photo opportunities or more information please contact Lee Lucks lee@visitoswestry.co.uk M: 07890608613
Photo from left in image.
Directors and volunteers:
Chris Toller
Graham Mitchell Vice Chairman
Lee Lucks Chairman
Steve Clews
Karen Pringle
Jane Powell
