Bailliefields Community Hub Receives King's Award for Voluntary Service 2025
Bailliefields Community Hub (BCH) in Falkirk, Scotland, has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) for 2025.
This award is the UK’s highest honour for volunteer groups, recognized as equivalent to an MBE. The KAVS celebrates outstanding contributions to local communities and acknowledges the vital role of volunteer groups in strengthening social fabric and fostering inclusivity. The award was renamed from The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) in February 2023, following King Charles III’s accession. Award announcements are made on November 14th, King Charles III’s birthday. The KAVS is a lifetime award that includes a certificate signed by the King, a crystal trophy, the right to use a special logo, and an invitation to a Royal Garden Party.
Origins and Evolution of Bailliefields Community Hub
The origins of BCH trace back to the Westquarter and Redding Cricket Club (WRCC), founded in 1908. In 2018, WRCC transitioned into a Community Interest Company (CIC) to pursue broader community goals. This evolution culminated in 2021 with the establishment of Bailliefields Community Hub as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).
The core principle guiding BCH is “A Place For All,” focusing on inclusivity, well-being, and building connections for everyone, regardless of age, background, or ability.
BCH operates from a renovated building, formerly a cow barn, which now includes a state-of-the-art community hall (opened January 2025) and modern meeting spaces. Their work prioritises inclusivity through various initiatives:
- Disability Support: BCH runs pan-disability cricket sessions, offers free coaching to groups like Alzheimer Scotland and Forth Valley Disability Sports, and is recognised as a Cricket Scotland Disability Cricket Champion Club.
- Tackling Social Isolation: They host dementia-friendly social cafés for individuals with dementia and their carers, and communal cooking workshops for the elderly to foster connection and shared experiences.
- Youth Development: BCH supports junior cricket teams, Kwik Cricket programs, All Stars initiatives, and Girls Only Dynamos programs, actively working to increase female participation in cricket.
- Community Engagement: They have established a community garden for sustainable food growing and biodiversity, and promote local walking and cycling paths to encourage physical activity and environmental appreciation.
BCH’s strategy for 2025 and beyond focuses on expanding its mission:
- New Demographics: Plans include providing support for women experiencing postnatal depression, mitigating social isolation among vulnerable groups, and assisting asylum seekers with integration.
- Accessibility: Continued efforts to ensure the “Changing Places” facility is well used.
- Community Gardens and Food Initiatives: Expansion of community gardens, culinary workshops, and exploration of a social enterprise for affordable, locally sourced food are planned.
- Nature Connection: Strengthening ties with local natural spaces and expanding walking and cycling routes to encourage exploration and appreciation of the environment.
- Cricket Club Development: Plans include introducing more hardball games for women, expanding Table Cricket opportunities, exploring the acquisition of an all-terrain wheelchair for disability cricket, and installing new indoor nets for year-round training.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a significant recognition of the efforts of Bailliefields Community Hub and the Westquarter and Redding Cricket Club. It symbolises the power of volunteers, the importance of a shared vision, and the transformative impact of a local group committed to creating “A Place For All.” BCH serves as an example of community cohesion and building a more inclusive future. The hub encourages involvement through its website (www.bailliefields.org), social media (@BailliefieldsHub), and volunteer opportunities.