Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker JP Cropped
Leader/Chief Executive portfolio

Eight Lancashire groups receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Eight groups of volunteers based in Lancashire have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. 

The groups are included in the list of 262 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 King’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 late Queen’s Golden Jubilee.  

This year will be the first awards made by His Majesty King Charles and the recipients will be announced each year on his official birthday, 14th November. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse.  

They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: A Rotary Club based in St Helens which is transforming the quality of life for their local community; an organisation in North Yorkshire which is assisting in the protection and preservation of life at sea and on the foreshore and a group in Greater Manchester providing hot meals and dry food parcels to those in need throughout the region.

Each of the groups will receive a certificate signed by HM The King and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker JP, at an award ceremony which will be held 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 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Mrs Parker 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 recommended 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 will feel encouraged to nominate.”

Notes to editors

Notes to editors:

 

  1. Lord Lieutenants represent The Monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.

 

  1. This year there are 262 recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at: https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
  1. 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 https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
  1. The window for Nominations for the 2025 Awards opens on 1 June next.
  1. This year’s Lancashire winners are:

 

  1. a) Accrington Stanley Supporters Society Limited

Maintains a constructive relationship between the Football Club and supporters whilst assisting the local community.

  1. b) Friends of Newton Community Park

Transforming Newton Park into a vibrant, sustainable village amenity at the heart of the community.

  1. c) Halton Gardening Group, Lancaster

Renovating and restoring the heritage of public areas in the village, providing community cohesion.

  1. d) Lions Running Community, Bamber Bridge

A running club that is inclusive of all abilities, enabling everyone to fulfil their goals.

  1. e) Morecambe Girls Football Club

A nurturing, inclusive community promoting physical and mental wellbeing through girls' football.

  1. f) Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust Limited

Restoring a Grade II* Victorian theatre as a music and performance venue.

  1. g) Neuro Drop-In Centre, Morecambe

Delivering targeted classes, friendship, support and a safe space for our Neurological community.

  1. h) The Washington Group, Lytham St Annes

Giving young people a voice and identity and promoting social mobility through projects and events.

 

 

For further information, please contact: Mr Robert Webb JP DL

Email: robert_webb@john-hogg.com

(Chairman of The King's Award for Voluntary Service Advisory Panel for Lancashire)

Photographers are also invited to come along and photograph the award ceremony (please contact the Lieutenancy Office for details: lieutenancy@lancashire.gov.uk).   Photographs from the ceremony will be made available after the event, journalists should contact the Communications Service at Lancashire County Council for more details.