King's Award for Voluntary Service

The Bailies of Bennachie is thrilled and honoured to announce that it has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in the awards list announced this morning. This award is the highest a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, the Bailies of Bennachie has a lasting legacy of working for Bennachie. The Bailies of Bennachie objectives are to encourage and stimulate the public’s interest of Bennachie, understanding it’s natural environment, history and culture, protecting this unique landscape for future generations.

Chair Peter Stock adds, “This is a huge honour for the Bailies of Bennachie, and I want to acknowledge the founders, current and past Trustees and especially the volunteers and members who have worked in so many diverse capacities over the past 51 years to achieve this outstanding award. This is a legacy that we can be very proud of and hand over to the next generation as we strive to be “The Voice for the Hill”. Being recognised with this award is such a boost for the Bailies.”

Representatives of Bailies of Bennachie will receive the award crystal and certificate from Sandy Manson, Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire early next year. In addition, two volunteers from Bailies of Bennachie will attend a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

The press release on the Government website can be read from this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awardees-of-the-2024-kings-award-for-voluntary-service-announced. This page also includes an interactive map of the award winners, of which there are only two in Aberdeenshire, and also the full list of those awarded.