National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Porthcawl has been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) 2026, the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK.

The award is equivalent to an MBE and recognises outstanding contributions made by volunteer organisations in communities across the country.

Based in the historic Victorian Pilot Lookout Tower, the station is manned by volunteer watchkeepers. The tower was converted into a National Coastwatch lookout station and officially opened in 2016.

Today, the station’s dedicated team of volunteer watchkeepers maintains a visual and listening watch over the Bristol Channel from Nash Point in the east, across the Bristol Channel to Minehead in Somerset, and west towards Ilfracombe.

Officially recognised and available to assist in search and rescue operations, NCI Porthcawl reports to HM Coastguard, providing vital information and observations to support those responding to incidents at sea and along the coastline.

The station recorded 86 incidents in 2025, the highest volume across the whole of the sixty-one National Coastwatch stations.

NCI Porthcawl operates every day throughout the year during daylight hours, with a minimum of two volunteer watchkeepers on duty at all times. Every member of the team gives their time freely, with the station’s running costs supported entirely through fundraising and generous donations.

NCI Porthcawl is one of 250 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

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. 2026 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, the award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK. NCI Porthcawl will receive the award crystal and certificate from Peter Vaughan, Lord-Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2027, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Laurence Bater, Porthcawl NCI Station Manager said: “I am delighted that our group’s work has been recognised with such a prestigious award. This is just reward for the time, efforts and dedication shown by the watchkeepers, who all give their time freely to help keep others safe. Watchkeepers commit to carrying out at least one watch per week plus helping with fundraising, so the role involves a good deal of dedication throughout the year. We are all extremely proud to have been awarded the KAVS, which has been achieved through hard work and commitment from all the watchkeepers at NCI Porthcawl.”