Crucial Crew in Oswestry and Shrewsbury has been given the highest award for a voluntary organisation by the King.

Shrewsbury & Oswestry Crucial Crew have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024 as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The charity which was formed in 1994 has been teaching local children crucial safety skills for at least two generations, having previously been held at Nesscliffe Training camp.

(Image: Crucial Crew)

The King’s award for voluntary service is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. 

Chairman, Maelor Owen said: “We are pleased that our group’s work has been recognised. Shrewsbury & Oswestry Crucial Crew continues due to the hard work of a strong committee, the commitment of our volunteers and the invaluable support of the professional agencies. 

“Crucial Crew is a national concept, but each one is run independently. The continued success and popularity of Shrewsbury and Oswestry Crucial Crew is down to all those previous, Committee Members and volunteers, who deserve to share the recognition that this award bestows.”

OTHER NEWS:

Shrewsbury & Oswestry Crucial Crew have an unpaid management team of 10 volunteers and is supported by over 100 volunteer chaperones.

The group facilitates a safety event in June each year for up to 1,560 Year 6, eleven-year-olds from up to 50 primary schools across the Shrewsbury & Oswestry education area each year.

Up to date safety advice is provided by professional partners, and volunteers, and to date over 35,000 children in Shropshire have benefitted from the service.

(Image: Crucial Crew)

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 Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee and has been continued following the accession of King Charles III.

2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday. 

Representatives of Shrewsbury & Oswestry Crucial Crew will receive the award crystal and certificate from Anna Turner, Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire later this year.

In addition, two volunteers from Crucial Crew will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2025.