Voluntary Service award for New Ferry Community Land Trust

New Ferry Community Land Trust (CLT) is one of three Wirral charities awarded The King's Award for Voluntary Service for 2024.

Nationally, 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups received the honour, which is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is described as equivalent to an MBE. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

New Ferry CLT's chair Margie Kegg said: "This award is a true honour for our organisation and the work it does behind the scenes in New Ferry."

Planters were installed on New Chester Road in New Ferry by New Ferry Community Land Trust volunteers (Image: courtesy of Mark Craig / New Ferry Community Land Trust) New Ferry Community Land Trust was established in November 2018 following the explosion in March 2017. A group of residents came together and volunteered their time to organise monthly community litter picks, install and maintain planting boxes around the district centre, and organise community events and environmental projects.

In 2020 the trust was awarded a grant from the Town Centre Fund by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to help with initial running costs of the Community Land Trust, fund events and to purchase and refurbish a building in the district centre as shops and flats, with the rental income to be used in perpetuity to fund community projects in New Ferry.

Over the last six years, the three volunteer board members of the CLT – who all have full time commitments elsewhere, have given their time to organising community art projects including murals on several buildings; supported the "New Ferry – Our Patch" programme where residents have created small community gardens on previously uncared for public land; organised the town’s Christmas tree and lights; and with a small army of dedicated volunteers aged eight to 80, run monthly litter picks, organised clean ups of back alleys, and held community markets and summer festivals in New Ferry Park including the Queens Jubilee celebration in 2022.

The result of an alley clean-up organised by New Ferry Community Land Trust (Image: courtesy of Mark Craig / New Ferry Community Land Trust) Their building refurbishment project at 78-80 New Chester Road, delayed by the Covid pandemic was partially completed in 2022 when Becky's Unique Sewing Boutique moved in to one of the ground floor retail units.

Completion of the four flats is currently 95% completed, having been further delayed by challenging structural issues faced by the 123 year old building which are currently being resolved with additional support by registered social housing provider Regenda. The first of the one and two-bedroomed flats will be available for rent in Spring 2025.

Picture taken during celebratory event for Queen's Jubilee in 2022 organised by New Ferry Community Land Trust (Image: courtesy of Mark Craig / New Ferry Community Land Trust) The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, launched to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities, was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and, was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King.

2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award crystal and certificate will be officially presented to the three board members by Mark Blundell, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside early next year.

Receiving the award on behalf of  are board members Margie, 62, who has full time responsibilities caring for her mother; Mark Anthony Craig, 61, who works for Liverpool City Council; and Margaret Evans, 74, who works for Intertek CRS. In addition, two of the volunteers from the group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Picture taken during celebratory event for Queen's Jubilee in 2022 organised by New Ferry Community Land Trust (Image: courtesy of Mark Craig / New Ferry Community Land Trust)

New Ferry CLT's chair Margie continued: "It has been tough for everyone, particularly in the additional time we have had to dedicate to getting our building project over the line.

"We are so proud that we were nominated for this award.

"However, none of what we have achieved would have been possible without the support of so many community volunteers including Gerry Evans, Sue Percy, Stewart Finch and all those who regularly attend the community litter picks, fix our Christmas lights and run our community events; as well as Neil Mitchell and Lee Parker from Wirral Borough Council.

"They have all helped us to put the heart back into the community of New Ferry."