Two Volunteering Matters volunteers awarded MBEs in King’s Birthday Honours
Volunteering Matters is delighted to congratulate Joe Knowles and Colin Mason on being awarded MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours. Their recognition reflects decades of dedication to volunteering, communities and helping others.
Volunteering Matters is delighted to congratulate two of our long-standing volunteers, Joe Knowles and Colin Mason, who have both been awarded MBEs (Members of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The awards recognise decades of outstanding service to communities, volunteering and public life. Together, Joe and Colin represent the very best of volunteering, demonstrating the extraordinary impact that committed individuals can have on the lives of others.
Joe Knowles MBE
Since retiring in 2011, Joe has dedicated himself to supporting communities across Scotland through Action Earth, a Volunteering Matters programme that provides grants to help local volunteers take action for nature and the environment.
For the past 14 years, Joe has been the driving force behind the programme, helping thousands of volunteers improve local green spaces and take action on environmental issues in their communities. Thanks to his dedication, Action Earth has supported almost 80,000 volunteers across more than 2,100 projects and distributed over £550,000 in funding.
Joe has championed inclusion throughout his work, helping ensure support reaches some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities and people living with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Alongside his work with Action Earth, he continues to volunteer extensively in his local community, supporting older and isolated residents and helping local organisations thrive.
His commitment, generosity and leadership have left a lasting mark on communities across Scotland and make him a highly deserving recipient of this honour.
Joe (right) together with Robert Henderson (left)
Reflecting on the award, Joe said:
“
Being awarded an MBE is both surprising and deeply humbling. My involvement with Action Earth has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, giving me the opportunity to help protect and improve local green spaces while working alongside people who care passionately about their communities.
What has always inspired me is the commitment, energy and generosity of the people involved. Time and again I’ve seen individuals come together to achieve things that would never be possible alone. I’m fortunate to have been supported by so many wonderful volunteers, partners and friends along the way, and I share this recognition with them. Their dedication is what makes projects like Action Earth such a success.”
Colin Mason MBE
Colin has devoted more than 35 years to volunteering, governance and community leadership, making an exceptional contribution across the voluntary sector and public life.
Through Volunteering Matters’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP), Colin has championed intergenerational volunteering and helped build stronger connections between older and younger people. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he played a vital role in helping communities stay informed, connected and resilient, supporting public health campaigns and ensuring important information reached those who needed it most.
Alongside his work with Volunteering Matters, Colin has served in governance roles across the charity and public sectors and volunteered directly with people in prison, supporting education and rehabilitation opportunities for some of society’s most marginalised groups.
Reflecting on the award, Colin said:
“
Receiving an MBE is a tremendous honour, but for me it reflects the efforts of so many volunteers, colleagues and communities I’ve had the privilege to work alongside over the years. Volunteering has given me far more than I could ever give back. It has allowed me to meet remarkable people, build lasting friendships and see first-hand the difference that ordinary people can make when they come together. If this recognition encourages even one more person to get involved in their community, then that will be one of the greatest rewards of all.
Celebrating the power of volunteering
Joe and Colin’s achievements demonstrate the many ways volunteering strengthens communities, supports individuals and creates lasting social change. Their commitment, leadership and generosity have touched countless lives and inspired others to get involved.
Everyone at Volunteering Matters congratulates Joe and Colin on this well-deserved recognition and thanks them for their outstanding contribution to communities across the UK.
