Wellingborough knife crime campaigners honoured with King’s Award for Voluntary Service
Off The Streets NN, a group of volunteers based across Northamptonshire, has been given The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.
This is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to a group MBE.
Off The Streets NN was set up in 2021 to look at ways in tackling and reducing knife crime in Northamptonshire.
Jane Capps, co-founder of Off The Streets, said: “We are all so proud of receiving this prestigious award and being recognised at Royal level.
"This is all thanks to volunteers past and present who work together to make things happen for positive change in our community.
"A huge thank you to everyone who has partnered with us or contributed in any way. It's a community team effort and we are so proud to be able to make a difference.”
Over the four years the team has given 75 educational talks to young people in Northamptonshire, engaging with more than 10,000 people.
They have placed and distributed more than 350 public access bleed control kits across the county, installed 19 permanently fixed amnesty bins collecting more than 6,000 knives.
Alongside placing the bleed kits they have trained more than 1,000 members of the public in how to access and use a bleed control kit in an emergency. Seven of their kits have been used and have saved lives.
They have also delivered numerous peaceful anti-knife crime marches and community events.
Off The Streets NN is one of 231 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
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.
Recipients are announced annually on November 14, The King’s birthday.
Award winners this year include volunteer groups from across the UK.
Representatives from Off The Streets NN will receive the award crystal and certificate from James Saunders Watson, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from Off The Streets NN will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award. Scott Fitzsimmons from Off The Streets NN added: “I'm truly honoured and delighted on behalf of the Off The Streets NN to receive the King’s Award. With thanks to The Daniel Baird Foundation and Meditech Global especially for their help and support.”