E2M Receives the King's Award for Voluntary Service

E2M Wins the King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Escape2Make, a Lancaster-based charity that provides free creative workshops and opportunities for 11-18-year-olds, has 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.

Amanda and Fran, two volunteers at E2M’s 2024 Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze Expedition

Volunteers are a key part of Escape2Make’s activity, as they help us ensure we provide a safe, welcoming space to all young people who walk through our door! We are incredibly lucky to have such a kind and talented team of volunteers who helps us in a variety of ways including, but not limited to helping new faces get integrated into our groups and expanding their circle of friends, working with the participants to ensure they understand the activity and are confident in their skills, and ensuring that every young person feels valued, supported, and appreciated!

We are thrilled to be 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. 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; a group running a museum and nonprofit railway In Belfast, preserving Northern Ireland’s railway heritage.

E2M Volunteer, Aison, helping to set up our 2024 Green Festival 

Representatives of Escape2Make will receive the award crystal and certificate from Amanda Parker, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from Escape2Make will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Escape2Make CEO, Kyle McKenzie said: “We are so incredibly lucky and grateful to have such a fantastic group of volunteers! Each one of them has brought so much to the organisation! Their kindness, compassion, and creativity are what make them a key part of Escape2Make’s core. We are thrilled that their work is being recognised and celebrated on such a prestigious level!”

The E2M Team, proud to receive such a prestigious award

If you would like to know more or would like to get involved contact info@escape2make.org or visit www.escape2make.org for more information