Holocaust Centre North has received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023 as part of King Charles’ birthday honours list.
Holocaust Centre North has received the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023. This is an incredible honour and a tremendous achievement in recognition of the Centre’s remarkable volunteers – many of whom are first, second and third generation survivors – and the outstanding contribution they have made in both the running of the Centre based at the University of Huddersfield and in the preservation of history.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. Holocaust Centre North is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to achieve this esteemed award this year – and only one of 29 specifically from Yorkshire. Their work, along with others from across the UK, serves as a reminder of all the ways fantastic and selfless volunteers
are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. The King’s Award for Voluntary
Service was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty emphasised his desire to continue the Award. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday.
Martin Kapel BEM, who is 93 years old and came to the UK as a child refugee on the Kindertransport and gives talks to school on a voluntary capacity said: “Receiving the King’s Award for Voluntary Service for our organisation is a profound honour that validates the efforts of every volunteer. It’s a tribute to the spirit of service over self, and to me personally, it’s an affirmation that every small act of kindness contributes to a legacy of change. I and other survivors of the Holocaust gathered around Holocaust Centre North because we believe that by sharing our stories of persecution, the world can grow more compassionate. This award is a celebration of community strength.”
