Cornwall Charity Active8 Meets King Charles at Palace Garden Party

What happens when a small Cornish charity ends up chatting to the King in his own back garden? For Active8, it became a moment they’ll never forget.

Representatives from the Cornish youth disability charity attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on Wednesday 6th May, where they spoke directly with King Charles about the work the organisation does across Cornwall.

Why Active8 Was Invited

The invitation followed the charity’s recent King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), granted in the King’s Birthday Honours at the end of last year. The award recognises outstanding work by local volunteer groups supporting their communities and is equivalent to an MBE, making it the highest honour a local voluntary service group can receive in the UK.

Active8 was founded in Cornwall in 1990 and has spent the past 35 years working with hundreds of young people living with disabilities. The charity runs tailored programmes built around peer connections, confidence, independence, and life skills, with accessible activities, peer mentoring, and aspirational experiences at the heart of what it does.

A Surreal Royal Moment

Active8’s volunteer Chairman, Mark Stevens, who is himself a former Active8 member, said it was a privilege to meet the King.

“It was great privilege to meet King Charles and talk with him about the amazing work of our Active8 staff and volunteers. To be congratulated for winning the Kings Award for Voluntary Services, by the King himself, was extremely surreal. I feel so proud to be a part of Active8 and I’m honoured to represent the charity on such a prestigious occasion,” Mark said.

CEO John Sweeting, who started out as an Active8 volunteer more than 15 years ago, attended alongside Active8 member Molly, who was invited in her own right on behalf of SMA UK.

“It was a great experience to visit Buckingham Palace, meet some brilliant people, and talk with other award winners from across the country. It was an added bonus to attend alongside Molly who is an Active8 member, invited to attend on behalf of SMA UK. To have the King speak to Mark about Active8 topped the day… the food wasn’t bad either!” John said.

Celebrations Coming to Cornwall

The official presentation of the award crystal and certificate will take place closer to home. Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho of Cornwall will hand over the award at Active8’s Friends and Family Summer Fete on Saturday 1st August at St Erme Community Centre. The fete is open to anyone who supports the charity’s work, with members, families, volunteers, and supporters all invited to share in the celebration.