A Nottingham-based charity dedicated to supporting children entering the foster care system has been honoured with the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the United Kingdom.
A Prestigious Honour for Local Volunteers
MyBag Charity has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025, an accolade considered equivalent to an MBE. This prestigious award recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups within their communities. The award was created in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II and has been continued following the accession of His Majesty The King, with 2025 marking its third year under the new name.
Comfort for Children in Care
Founded by father and daughter Stuart Ferguson and Nicola Barber, who were later joined by family friends Steph Mallory and Oliver Rolling in 2018, MyBag Charity was established with a clear and compassionate mission. The charity works to end the practice of children arriving at foster care for the first time with their belongings carried in bin liners across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
With almost two children entering the foster care system in the county every single day, the charity's work is vital. MyBag provides each child with an age-appropriate bag of comfort, which includes essential and reassuring items such as a teddy bear, a blanket, an inner bag for their personal possessions, and various other comforting goods.
Extending Support to Young Adults
The charity's impact extends beyond young children through its initiative called MyBox. This programme supplies more than 1,000 boxes every year filled with hygiene and cleaning products. These boxes are distributed to young people living in semi-independent care across the county who have very little money to live on.
As a small, local, and registered not-for-profit organisation, MyBag Charity prides itself on its financial efficiency, ensuring that 97 pence from every pound donated goes directly to supporting local children in care.
A spokesperson for the charity expressed their profound emotions upon receiving the news, stating: "For nearly eight years we have chosen to 'fly below the radar', so we were surprised, proud and honoured when we heard the news that we had been chosen for this award." They added, "Our biggest hope is that more and more individuals and companies will join the growing ranks of our supporters so we can continue to help the most vulnerable in our community."
The recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service are announced annually on November 14th, The King’s Birthday. For more information about MyBag Charity, including details on how to donate, please visit their website at www.mybagcharity.co.uk.
