King's Award charity recognition 'overwhelming'
Just now
Megan Paterson
,
Adam Powell
and
Catherine Lee
,
North East and Cumbria
More than a dozen charities, social enterprises and community groups across the north-east of England and Cumbria have been given the King's Award for Voluntary Service.
The award is the highest given to volunteer groups across the UK - the charity equivalent of an MBE - and was announced to mark King Charles' birthday on 14 November.
Among the region's 16 recipients was Feeding Families, which supports thousands of people facing food poverty or who are in crisis. CEO, Wayne Dobson, said the organisation was "overwhelmed" by the news.
Lynsey Buckle, who holds the same role at Cumbria Family Support which worked with 255 families last year, said: "We are over the moon."
The King's Award recognised a total of 250 volunteer-led groups across the country covering areas such as mental health support, youth services, environmental projects and community initiatives.
Feeding Families operates from Northumberland to Teesside.
Dobson said: "This is absolutely amazing and more than anything it is recognition for those that come in day in and day out throughout the year."
He said volunteers were already preparing for a busy festive season, with 10,000 food boxes and hampers of essentials set to go out.
'Compassion and commitment'
Cumbria Family Support said it worked to empower parents, many of whom did not experience positive parenting themselves, to help them develop healthy relationships and create safe, nurturing homes.
Buckle also highlighted the importance of volunteers.
"It is their compassion and commitment that makes such a profound difference," she said.
"Because of them, families build stronger bonds, improve communication, establish healthier routines and develop greater resilience."
County Durham's Chester-le-Street Amazons football club was another group to be granted the award.
Welcoming girls from as young as four, it focuses on creating a "supportive environment that helps players develop skills, build friendships, improve well-being and grow in self-belief", the club said.
President Julie Scurfield told the BBC she had the idea to set up the team 21 years ago and it had "developed into a really big club full of girls and young women".
Chairperson Melinda Izomor said the award was an "absolute honour", adding it was deserved praise for the "wonderful" efforts of players, parents and volunteers.
Vicky Foxcroft, Minister for Civil Society, said volunteers were "the lifeblood of our communities".
"Every day, they help tackle loneliness, support people's mental health and look after the places we call home," she said.
"To every volunteer recognised, thank you and congratulations."
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'We've taken teabags and meat out of our hampers'
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