Six groups of volunteers based in Lancashire have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The groups are included in the list of 244 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation, 2 June. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: a rural support group for farmers in Shropshire; a community magazine addressing isolation in the Western Isles; a running club engaging all ages in County Tyrone; a film academy and community hub based in South Wales, and a food bank in Greater London feeding vulnerable individuals and providing training opportunities.

Each of the groups will receive a certificate signed by HM The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO, at an award ceremony which will be held on Monday 11 July at County Hall in Preston. Furthermore, two volunteers from each of the Groups will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023 (depending on any restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Lord Shuttleworth commented: “I am delighted that these groups’ work has been recognised in this way; during our assessment visits we were impressed by their achievements and commitment to their communities. I very much hope that we will see more excellent groups nominated for the Award in the future. I know that the people of Lancashire will look at the brilliant and essential work that voluntary groups and charities have been doing and nominate for next year’s awards. The nomination window is now open.”

 This year’s Lancashire winners:

Friends of Rhyddings Park, Hyndburn

Played a key role in reviving a dilapidated park and transforming its cafe to provide a base for community activities such as gardening, walks, craft, well-being sessions.

Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland

Providing an impressive range of activities and events to maintain a much-loved green space and bring the community together in a deprived part of Blackpool.

Church & Oswaldtwistle Rotary

Improving life for the whole community through an impressive range of environmental, social and youth projects. Goes far beyond fundraising.

Healthier Fleetwood

Connecting residents and groups to help them create their own path to improve well-being through meetups, mentoring, sport and arts activities, and mental health support.

Cedar House Preston

Providing free counselling across a spectrum of issues (bereavement, domestic abuse, depression, miscarriage amongst others) for the people of Preston.

New Neighbours Together

A small specialist charity providing grassroot care and support to Asylum seekers and refugees in Burnley.

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Any group of three or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award. Full details on how to nominate are available at qavs.dcms.gov.uk/  

For further information, please contact Terry Hephrun, the Chairman of the Lancashire Advisory Panel for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service [email protected]

Nominations for the 2023 awards close on 15 September 2022.

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This year there are 244 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at qavs.dcms.gov.uk/