Barford Village Shop volunteers honoured with King’s Award
National honour crowns 18 years of community service
Barford Village Shop has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and equivalent to an MBE.
The honour recognises the huge contribution of the shop’s 70 volunteers who, working alongside the manager, keep the village’s only shop open 364 days a year.
There is also a post office open five days a week, again supported by volunteers under the guidance of a manager. The shop and post office provide essential services for villagers as well as supporting local suppliers.
Since 2008, the shop has given over £250,000 to the Barford Community Charity to help fund community projects, including the new Barford Youth and Community Centre, King George’s Field and other smaller projects. This has only been possible though the work of the volunteers and the support of the village.
Representatives of Barford Village Shop will receive the crystal award and certificate from Tim Cox, Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, in the coming months.
Shop manager Corenna Jennings said: “This is a wonderful honour for our volunteers, past and present, who give their time to keep the shop at the heart of the village.
"It is their dedication, together with the support of our customers and local suppliers, that makes this community shop so special.
"We have recently celebrated our 18th birthday; I would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this milestone. The award is something for the whole village to celebrate.”