Four community groups in Lancaster and Morecambe have been presented with their King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Award winning charity, Neuro DropIn, the volunteers at Halton Gardening Group, Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust and Morecambe Girls Football Club become recipients of the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, an award which is equivalent to an MBE.
Representatives from all groups attended a special service in Preston this week, to accept their award crystal and certificate from Amanda Parker, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin (pictured above), Chair of the Morecambe Winter Garden Preservation Trust, attended the ceremony with fellow trustee, Paul Anderton, and volunteers Dot, Alf and Lorraine.
She said: ‘’It was a wonderful day in Preston with fellow King’s Award for Voluntary Service winners from Lancashire.
‘’Thank you to Lancaster District CVS for all their support on this volunteer framework journey.
‘’Thank you again to our amazing volunteers whose thousands of hours of dedicated love and service from cleaning to mopping to painting serving meeting and greeting, running the tombola, making teas toasties and doing tours.
‘’The work is endless but the results are starting to show.’’
Monica Williams, Chair of the Halton Gardening Group, said: ‘’We are community gardeners who have been given this award for restoring village heritage and public garden areas, providing community development and integration.
Above: Halton Gardening Group
‘’We are delighted that our group’s work has been recognised in this way. However, we could not do what we do without the support of the community in Halton with Aughton.
‘’We are grateful for the support for our fundraising plant sales and garden safaris over the years, and for the many personal donations made to help us fund the projects we have undertaken in the village.’’
Sharon Jackson, founder of Neuro Dropin, said: ‘’Thanks to all volunteers past and present for their hard work, loyalty and dedication which without there would be no Neuro Drop In.
‘’We wish all of our volunteers could have been there, because this award really is for you!
Above: Neuro Dropin
‘’Neuro Dropin would also like to extend our congratulations to all the other groups including those from Lancaster and Morecambe. Listening to your stories and future plans is truly inspiring.
‘’We’d love to say a huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers who continue to help us provide a unique and welcoming place in Lancaster and Morecambe for anyone affected by a neurological condition.
‘’Neuro Drop In is a place for you and your family to meet with others that may have the same or similar conditions, whether you are newly diagnosed or have lived with a condition for a long time. Come and enjoy our lovely pop up café, tasty sweet treats and a range of groups and classes with our friendly community.’’
Morecambe Girls Football Club was also a recipient, in recognition of ‘nurturing an inclusive community, promoting physical and mental wellbeing through girls football.’
The club is the home of football for females of all ages in the Morecambe and Lancaster district, with ten junior teams playing in either the Poulton and District Primary League or the South Lakes Girls League, and are the biggest and most successful club in the area.
All four organisations are among 262 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award. 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 benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty the King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.
Recipients are announced annually on November 14, the King’s Birthday.
In addition, two volunteers from each group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
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