A group of volunteers based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Sherwood Observatory (the home of Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society CIO) has been operated by a group of volunteers since the 1970s, when they built the original observatory, which houses a large Newtonian telescope, on a small site in Sutton-in-Ashfield. They also had a Radio Astronomy Centre, which originated in 2010 and relocated to its own building in 2019.
Right from the start, the volunteer group, who share a deep-rooted passion for astronomy, decided they wanted to share knowledge and inspire the wider community of Sutton-in-Ashfield, and even the East Midlands.
As demand for public visits was higher than could be accommodated by the original observatory, the group set about fundraising and securing grants and donations, which totalled £6.8 million.
This allowed them to embark on an ambitious project to convert a disused Victorian reservoir next to the original observatory into something incredibly special for the area.
Construction began in August 2023, using a local supply chain wherever possible, and over a period of 15 months the dilapidated site was transformed into a state-of-the-art centre (which includes a 59-seat planetarium, an exhibition space, conference rooms and a spacious café, all designed with accessibility in mind).
The charity’s vision champions STEM and acts as a valuable resource for education, enabling the development of knowledge, skills and confidence in young people and adults. The centre welcomes schools, local groups, home educators, businesses and members of the public, always welcoming individuals with disabilities or special requirements. It is also continuously working with like-minded organisations on visionary projects and to bring future events to the area.
Sherwood Observatory is one of 232 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
Their work, along with that of 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. 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 group of dog walkers clearing up their local area in Kincardineshire; a group providing unique flying experiences for people with disabilities in Hampshire; a group providing support to veterans and their families across Welsh Valley communities; and a group running a museum and non-profit railway in Belfast, preserving Northern Ireland’s railway heritage.
Representatives of Sherwood Observatory will receive the award crystal and certificate from Professor Veronica Pickering MBE KStJ, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from the observatory will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Observatory Chairman Dr Steve Wallace MBE said, “I am absolutely delighted that we have received this award, as it recognises the dedication of our volunteers over more than 50 years. The funding that we raised to build our new planetarium and science centre would not have been possible without their hard work and the reputation that they have developed for engaging with and inspiring our visitors.”
Tony Booth, Centre Manager, said, “I’ve been a member and volunteer within Sherwood Observatory for several years and now manage this wonderful facility. I am extremely proud of our team of volunteers, past and present, and what they have achieved. We would never have seen such success without their hard work and dedication to our core values throughout the decades. This award is a testament to all those who have given up their precious time to educate and inspire young minds, welcome visitors from near and far, and give something back to the community.”
