Three volunteer groups in Cumbria have been awarded the UK’s highest honour for their work in the community.
Bay Search and Rescue, Fellrunner Village Bus and Westmorland County Agricultural Show have been given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the MBE for volunteer groups.
Bay Search and Rescue delivers a volunteer all-terrain and amphibious search and rescue service in Morecambe Bay.
The group’s skills and mobility also address environmental challenges such as flooding, severe winter weather and wildfires.
Members also undertake large animal and marine mammal rescue.
For more than 40 years, Fellrunner Village Bus delivers an essential service to its local community.
It connects the many small villages and isolated hamlets in Eden district to the market town of Penrith and city of Carlisle.
Westmorland County Agricultural Society provides community-led agricultural events and educational programmes promoting food, farming and the environment.
Established in 1799, it is hugely emblematic of Cumbria’s rural heritage and identity, but at the same time its volunteer-led and volunteer-delivered activities are outstandingly relevant and supportive to the needs of today’s agricultural and rural industry community.
In total, 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups received the prestigious award this year across the UK.
The winning organisations will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and a domed glass crystal which will be presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman.
Two volunteers from each group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award made to recognise and reward the most exceptional and innovative groups who provide voluntary led activities carried out by local groups in the community.
It is a highly competitive and prestigious award and only about half of the nominations can expect to win.
The award was announced in 2002 as part of the celebrations for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and was first known as The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award.
Mrs Hensman said: “The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest accolade for any voluntary organisation and I am thrilled that some of our organisations in Cumbria have achieved national recognition.
“I would like to thank our winning organisations for their tireless work and commitment to the communities they serve. I do congratulate them.
“They are all thoroughly deserving of this award. Volunteers are the glue that hold our communities together.”
“There are many more voluntary groups across Cumbria doing excellent, innovative work enhancing the lives and experiences of many people in their local communities.
“Many have stepped up to the current COVID-19 challenge in very difficult circumstances and they have all our admiration and gratitude.
“I hope that this will prompt more nominations for the next year’s round of awards.”
