Huby and Sutton Community Shop Receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Huby and Sutton Community Shop has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, the highest honour a local voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Huby and Sutton Community Shop has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, the highest honour a local voluntary group can receive in the UK. Often described as the MBE for volunteer groups, the award recognises outstanding work by local organisations that make a positive impact in their communities.

Run entirely by volunteers, the shop serves the neighbouring villages of Huby and Sutton-on-the-Forest, providing essential services such as groceries, newspapers, and Post Office facilities. It also champions local producers, stocking items including bread, milk, honey, coffee, spirits and flowers from nearby suppliers.

The shop operates as a Community Benefit Society, meaning it is owned by and run for the benefit of local residents. Any profits made are reinvested into the shop and community projects. In addition, it offers work experience opportunities to young people through the Duke of Edinburgh Award and other schemes.

More than just a place to shop, Huby and Sutton Community Shop has become a social hub for both villages, offering a welcoming space for people of all ages to connect and volunteer.

Volunteer Coordinator Marina Hilditch said: “Our volunteers are absolutely delighted that our community shop has been recognised with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

"This honour reflects the incredible commitment of our volunteers who give their time and energy to keep the shop running and to serve our villages with warmth and care.”

Representatives of the shop will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mrs Johanna Ropner, Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, in the coming months. Two volunteers will also attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2026, alongside other recipients of this year’s award.

This year, 232 organisations from across the UK have received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, celebrating the dedication and impact of volunteer groups nationwide.