A special day in Dulverton: EYV's King's Award Celebration

Wow what a month we’ve had here at Exmoor Young Voices! After being announced as a winner of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service back in November, the time finally arrived for our official presentation.

To mark the occasion in style, we headed to Dulverton Town Hall, filled the room with local dignitaries, long-time supporters and of course, our EYV members, and ensured this wasn’t your average presentation but a heartfelt celebration of all we have achieved over the last decade (and a bit!)

A milestone moment for Exmoor’s future
We knew this was a rare and special moment - not just to receive such an incredible honour, but to have so many important and supportive people in the room. It felt like the perfect opportunity to say, loud and clear, that young people are vital to Exmoor’s future. And unless we support them, champion them, and most importantly prioritise them, we risk losing them and the future of our communities.

The day began with coffee, nibbles, and an hour of good old Exmoor-style networking. As is so often the case around here, everyone seemed to know someone, and the room was quickly buzzing with conversation and laughter. It set the tone perfectly: warm, welcoming, and full of heart.

Then came the formal part of the day… the official presentation! His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mr Mohammed Saddiq, had travelled from Bath to present Exmoor Young Voices with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service - a commemorative crystal and a certificate signed by The King. It was a proud and humbling moment for all involved.

Mr Saddiq spoke about the uniqueness of EYV: the only group of its kind across all of the UK’s national parks and protected landscape areas, and praised our wide-ranging efforts to listen and tackle the real issues facing young people on Exmoor, from housing and childcare to transport and digital connectivity.
Our Chair, Will Lock, gave a heartfelt response, thanking the Exmoor National Park Authority for their foresight in helping to establish EYV more than 12 years ago, and recognising the vital support of local housing associations over the years. He also gave a special mention to Councillors Steven Pugsley and Frances Nicholson, whose advice and active involvement have been key to our progress.

The people who helped shape EYV
The event was brilliantly compered by EYV founder Leslie Silverlock, whose humour and light-hearted touches kept the 60 or so guests smiling throughout. Among them were High Sheriff Janet Montgomery, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Ian Moncrieff, Baroness Ann Mallalieu and our local MP, Rachel Gilmour, not to mention many of our trustees, members, supporters and friends.

There were also warm thanks for a number of individuals who’ve helped shape the EYV journey:

• Justin and Linda Ruthven-Tyers, who opened up their self-built ‘Straw House’ to inspire our young people. Justin also wrote the excellent manual ‘How to Self Build your Dream Home for £99,000 or less’, and continues to mentor and support our group of self-builders.
  
  
• Jan Ross MBE and Keith Ross OBE, who were instrumental in helping us achieve charitable status and have supported us in staying on the right side of charity compliance ever since.
  
  
• Megan Hunt, who has grown from media lead to what we like to call our CEO (she has other ideas - preferring to go by ‘coordinator’), now leading the charge on outreach and communications.

We also took a moment to sing Happy Birthday to little Delilah Camp – a surprise highlight of the day! Delilah’s parents, Sam Camp and Robyn Gummer, are long-standing EYV members, and it was Robyn who originally sparked the vital conversation about the need for better childcare provision on Exmoor after she had Delilah (now seven years old). A small celebration with big meaning – reminding us exactly why EYV exists.

Will closed his speech with a heartfelt thank you to Les and Marion Silverlock (the original driving force behind EYV) for their tireless work over the past 12 years to ensure that young people in the Park don’t become, as he so memorably put it, “as rare as the Exmoor Pony.”

Self Build in Action: Josh and Megan’s story
As we said, this wasn’t your average presentation – we also wanted to give our audience a flavour of EYV’s work in action. So, cue the projector, a nervous Megan (not a fan of public speaking), and a charming, relaxed Josh (used to talking to a camera most days), as they took to the stage to share the story of EYV’s first-ever pilot self-build.

Together, they presented an extensive photo and film show, walking us through the ups, downs, and baffling parts of building their own home on Exmoor. From navigating a lengthy planning process during the pandemic to battling the weather, juggling full-time work and family life, dealing with hidden costs, and tackling one barrier after another, Josh admitted the journey so far has been anything but straightforward. But, of course, it would all be worth it in the end for their forever family home (with its amazing Exmoor views).

Josh also explained the innovative building system they’d chosen: Nudura ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) blocks, which are quick and easy to install and offer twice the usual level of insulation. As the build progressed and their knowledge grew, they made a couple of planning amendments to improve the design and reduce costs. One particular challenge was finding the right windows. Park planners were keen on traditional timber, but eventually allowed wood-effect uPVC for Josh and Megan’s self build, which the self-builders stated is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

They both spoke about the importance of community support, and not being afraid to ask for help. Megan and Josh praised Councillor Frances Nicholson for her role in working with Highways to find a solution to a costly road closure required to connect their water mains. They also thanked Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology, and Somerset Council for providing a flexible, low-interest self-build loan (and a grant), which was helping to finance their project. This financial support was crucial given the difficulty of securing a mortgage for a self-build with a Section 106 local tie.

Megan explained that there are many ways to approach a self-build, from doing it all yourself and learning as you go, to bringing in professionals for the more complex bits. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and it’s about finding what works for you. She was also quick to remind everyone that she and Josh aren’t the only self-builders on Exmoor. EYV has an entire group of aspiring self-builders who are eager to follow suit. Many are navigating the biggest hurdle of all - finding affordable land. The group includes a mix of agricultural workers, builders, carpenters, architects and other local workers, all pooling knowledge, cheering each other on, and determined to overcome the barriers that prevent young people from staying and thriving here on Exmoor.

Josh wrapped things up with heartfelt thanks to the room, and a special mention to Will and Les, who he described as “the rocks of EYV.”

Looking ahead to the next chapter
Will closed the speeches by emphasising the importance of working together. Collaboration has always been at the heart of EYV - it’s how we’ve achieved what we have so far, and it’s how we’ll keep pushing forward.

After the presentation, guests enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch catered by the wonderful Shirley Julian — a chance to relax, chat and reflect on the morning’s presentations. The room was buzzing with thoughtful conversations, new connections and a real sense of shared purpose. And the response following the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with several guests offering future support, guidance and opportunities for collaboration. It felt like more than a celebration. It felt like the beginning of our next exciting chapter!

Our thanks
A huge thank you must go to His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Mohammed Saddiq, not only for presenting the award, but for his generous words and genuine interest in our work. We’re also incredibly grateful to Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Ian Moncrieff, who played a key role in the application process. His belief in EYV’s work and uniqueness means a lot to us.

We’d also like to thank everyone who helped make the day so special, from the behind-the-scenes logistics to the generous sponsorship that made the event possible. Particular thanks to Julia Knight, Christine Dubery, Gerry Lewis, Shirley Julian, George Ody, Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Steven Pugsley, Jan Ross, Leslie and Marion Silverlock, and the many others who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to ensure everything ran smoothly. It truly was a team effort, and one we won’t forget.
A final thank you to everyone who attended to celebrate with us. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Photos by George Ody