Scout Group named as King’s Volunteer Award winner
By Lisa Young
A LOCAL SCOUTS GROUP are celebrating as they were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025 after delivering incredible activities for young people this year; which has seen them earn the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group has a total of sixty volunteers who have collectively delivered over 10,000 hours of scouting activities in the last year; their work supporting 280 young people aged 4 -14 from the local area and beyond. As well as adventurous activities, the group supports community cohesion and development of skills for life in its young people.
The Group, nicknamed #team6th, were founded in 1910 and in the last year alone have undertaken 2 international trips, and worked towards over 8000 badges with their young people. They also continue to be recognised by the Royal Air Force as providing high quality air scouting.
6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group 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 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. The 2025 recipients marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and are announced annually on November 14.
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; and group providing unique flying experiences for people with disabilities in Hampshire. A group providing support to veterans and their families across Welsh Valley communities; a group running a museum and non-profit railway In Belfast, preserving Northern Ireland’s railway heritage are also named for 2025 awards.
Representatives of 6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from 6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Group Lead Volunteer, Lisa Young, stated: “I am delighted that the Group’s hard work has been recognised, the volunteers at the 6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group are exceptional, the time commitment, dedication, creativity and passion they put in to delivering Scouting activities week after week never ceases to amaze me. They really do go the extra mile.”
Natasha Peck, a parent of Courtney, one of the young people at the group said: “Being part of #team6th (the Scout group’s nickname) has had a fantastic impact on Courtney’s life. The volunteers are a fantastic group of people and dedicate so much time, patience and support to all the young people. “
“They’ve helped Courtney to learn so many skills, and played a crucial part in helping her build confidence in herself and to do different activities. The volunteers have helped shape her to become the kind, caring and supportive person she is, Being a part of #team6th makes her, and her family very proud. We will never be able to communicate how incredibly grateful we are for all of the volunteers at #team6th, and the opportunities they have provided.”
PICTURED: Volunteers from the 6th Gosport (Rowner) Air Scout Group stand proudly together upon hearing news that they have won The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.
