VOLUNTEERS at a community volunteer group in Bebington are celebrating after they were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) for 2024.

The KAVS aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It 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. 

Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.

Brighter Bebington was founded in 1992 by Colin Bermingham who set up the group with the aim to make Bebington “brighter”. It now has around 16 volunteers from the local community.

He told the Globe: “We started off doing Christmas lights in Lower Bebington and it just sort of spread.

“We then started doing other areas including Spital, Higher Bebington and Broadway and then moved on to doing floor planters in the main parts of these areas like Church Road and Teehey Lane.

“They are popular because they brighten up the area so we maintain them twice a year in the summer and in the winter.”

As well as Christmas lights and flower planters the group hold an annual Christmas concert.

Colin said: “This will be our 10th year of doing it. We have a visit from Mr and Mrs Clause, Christmas lights, brass bands playing carols, a variety of stalls then of course the carol concert.

“It’s a lovely day and a great family event.”

Representatives of Brighter Bebington will receive the award crystal and certificate from the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell and will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Speaking of winning the award, Colin said: “It’s just magnificent. We never did this to get an award it was just something we wanted to do but to be recognised this way is amazing.

“It’s the highest award for voluntary service in the UK and its equivalent to the MBE so we are really proud and all the volunteers are all really made up.

“Going to Buckingham Palace is something you’d never dream of it’s just out of the question so it’s really exciting.”