Friends of Pontesbury Library is today awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service

News from our partners Friends of Pontesbury Library.

It is announced today (Friday 14 November 2025) – HM King Charles’ birthday – that The Friends of Pontesbury Library are to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, equivalent to an MBE for Voluntary Groups. The Award will be presented by the King’s Lord Lieutenant in Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, at a future date.

Friends of Pontesbury Library committee members.

In recognition of the Friends’ recent successes, Roy Bower, retired former Head Teacher Mary Webb School, Greg Smith, local rector, and Martyn Cribb OBE, former HM Inspector of Schools, recommended to HM the King that Friends of Pontesbury Library should be granted this award.

Some 10 years ago the Shropshire Library Service needed to look for savings from its budget and proposed that most of its branch libraries, like Pontesbury, would close, unless the local communities could raise funds and set up a local organisation to support the library financially and administratively.

Pontesbury and surrounding villages rose to the challenge and set up ‘The Friends’ (FOPL) to work with Shropshire Library Service, Pontesbury Parish Council and other local organisations. The Friends’ volunteers set up a Steering Group, drew up draft Terms of Reference, submitted them to Shropshire Council and received the go ahead. In consultation with the local community they determined that the outcome should be ‘more than just a library’.

FOPL’s activities for all ages have expanded exponentially and are very well-supported. Alongside fundraising, they include illustrated talks, plant sales, literacy, writing competitions, children’s craft activities, Christmas activities including Santa Fun Runs, Santa Sleigh tours and tree recycling, coffee mornings and a monthly lottery.

Working with Pontesbury Parish Council and Shropshire Council, FOPL negotiated the library’s move into splendid purpose-built, multi-use premises in the village centre, the Pavilion Community Hub and Library. The Friends have also provided additional equipment and resources, to enhance the library’s relevance to the growing needs of the community.

Figures recently released show that over the past five years, at a time when library use is generally declining, active users of Pontesbury Library have increased by 17% – the highest in Shropshire. This shows that partnership between the voluntary and public sector can produce positive results and reduce costs.

Caroline Wright, recently appointed FOPL Chair, said:

“I’m very proud to take on this role for such an effective voluntary organisation, now granted this most welcome award.”

Yvonne Davies, Trustee and previous FOPL Chair, said:

“We are truly delighted to receive this prestigious award on behalf of the many volunteers who have worked with such passionate commitment to keep our library open. It’s now truly a much-loved library for the whole community, as this award recognises.”

Bob Boden, inaugural FOPL Chair and Bid Co-ordinator, said:

“It’s an honour for Pontesbury to receive this award in recognition of the commitment and very hard work by our volunteers and the support of our local community.”

Beverley Dunn, Pontesbury Library Manager for the last 10 years, added:

“I greatly appreciate the support and assistance the Friends give to the library; many activities would just not be possible without them.”

Friends of Pontesbury Library is one of 231 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award in the UK this year. 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 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.