Vice Lord- Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Gavin Whitefield CBE DL presented the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to CHOICES Carluke at a special celebration event which took place on 1st April 2026.
CHOICES, based in Carluke, is a charity shop run by around 40 volunteers who provide a vital service to the local community. As well as supporting the town’s youth centre and other good causes, the shop acts as a friendly drop-in space where volunteers lend a listening ear and offer guidance. The group also helps young people gain work experience and employability skills.
CHOICES joins a distinguished list of charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups across the UK to receive this prestigious award , the highest recognition a local voluntary organisation can receive , equivalent to an MBE. Their work exemplifies the outstanding contribution of volunteers to strengthening local communities and improving lives.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was established in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and continues under His Majesty The King, who remains committed to recognising the exceptional efforts of volunteer groups. The recipients were announced on 14th November 2025, The King’s Birthday.
Many congratulations to everyone involved with the CHOICES Carluke on this very well deserved recognition .
Notes to editors
- Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
- This year there are 231 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.( 25 from Scotland ).
- More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/