A village hall, supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has received the highest award available to local voluntary groups.
Sancton Village Hall was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025, equivalent to an MBE. Trustees and volunteers worked for more than 25 years to bring the hall back from a derelict shell to a busy and thriving centre for the village and surrounding area.
Grants were secured to develop the hall, most recently from the UK government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and Sancton Hill Wind Farm Community Fund.
The hall also received grants from East Riding Council’s Do It For East Yorkshire (DIFEY) fund, which were essential to developing the hall’s social and cultural activities.
The hall was awarded £2,500 in 2024 for social activities for the ‘social Sancton project’ including music events, writing workshops, wreath making workshop, Halloween and Christmas event. It also received £37,000 from the UKSPF to develop the village hall to provide additional community activities.
It now hosts hoop and dance, pilates, yoga, live theatre and Sancton Writer’s Circle, and volunteers run coffee mornings, quizzes, film nights, table tennis, craft sessions and further activities.
Councillor Anne Handley, East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader said “It’s fantastic to see Sancton Village Hall receive this prestigious award.”
“We are proud to support communities across the East Riding through the DIFEY fund, and send our congratulations to the trustees and volunteers in Sancton whose hard work has been justly recognised.”
Anita Liley, Chair of Trustees said “Everything that happens is through the efforts of volunteers and the hall couldn’t manage without them,”
“This award is for everyone who has put in their time and effort to make the hall a success and we feel proud and honoured to receive it”
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Mr. Jim Dick, OBE said “I’m delighted that Sancton Village Hall have been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This prestigious award recognises and celebrates the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and impact of volunteers who give their time selflessly to support others.”
“Their work embodies the very best of our communities and is a shining ample of the power of voluntary service. We commend them for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many – their hard work genuinely changes lives and strengthens our communities. My congratulations on this outstanding achievement.”
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.
