Five Lancashire groups receive The King's Award for voluntary service
Five volunteer groups from across Lancashire have been recognised with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK.
The Lancashire recipients are among 250 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups recognised with the prestigious Award this year.
Continued high levels of nominations reflect the strength and diversity of volunteering across the country and the many ways in which volunteers are making a difference in their communities.
Established in 2002 to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, The King’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises outstanding work carried out by volunteer-led groups for the benefit of their communities.
This year’s Lancashire recipients reflect the remarkable diversity of volunteering across the county.
Accrington Stations Adoption Group (Stations of Welcome) brings South Asian Muslim women together to improve their local station, build confidence and strengthen community connections. St Annes Football Club provides sporting and wider opportunities for people of all abilities, ages, genders, creeds and ethnicities. The Volunteer Team at Hoole Village Memorial Hall promotes wellbeing and community connection, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation among people in Much Hoole. Trawden Forest Community Centre, Library & Shop has helped revitalise the village by creating a friendly, thriving and vibrant community hub and Aawaz, Accrington strengthens communities by giving minoritised women a voice and providing practical, volunteer-led support.
Each of the five groups will receive a certificate signed by His Majesty The King and a commemorative crystal, presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker, at an awards ceremony at County Hall, Preston. Two volunteers from each group will also be invited to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2027, alongside other recipients of this year’s Award.
Mrs Parker said: “I am delighted that five Lancashire groups have received The King's Award for Voluntary Service. Each is making an important contribution to its community, whether through sport, supporting people who might otherwise feel isolated, or creating places that bring people together.
"Volunteers are characteristically modest about their achievements and rarely seek recognition for what they do. That makes this Award particularly special, and I hope it will encourage others to nominate the many deserving groups working across Lancashire.”
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Notes to editors
- Lord Lieutenants represent The Monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
- This year there are 250 recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award and full details how to nominate can be found at: https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Any group of three or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award.
- The window for Nominations for the 2027 Awards opened on 1 September and will close on 1 December 2026.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Robert Webb JP DL / Email: robert.webb@johnhogg.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.