Northamptonshire Voluntary Groups Honored with King’s Award

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, recognized as the top honor for volunteer organizations across the UK, has been bestowed upon three voluntary groups located in Northamptonshire. These groups include St Andrew’s Voluntary Services, based in Northampton; Northamptonshire Search and Rescue (NSAR); and Rush2TheDen, situated in Rushden. Each has been granted the distinction for their “outstanding work”. This King’s Award is considered to be the volunteer group equivalent of an MBE. Later this year, James Saunders Watson, the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, will present representatives from each of these organizations with an award crystal and a certificate. An NSAR spokesperson conveyed that the group felt “immensely proud” and “astonished” by the King’s recognition. Comprising a team of 48 volunteers, NSAR has responded to almost 600 incidents, providing aid in operations such as missing-person searches and flood relief. Their most recent involvement was assisting with evacuations at Billing Aquadrome amidst severe flooding. St Andrew’s Healthcare’s Voluntary Services team received recognition for the significant impact its volunteers have had on hundreds of patients. Presently, 450 volunteers dedicate their time across St Andrew’s facilities in Northampton, Birmingham, and Essex. Dawn Wright, the voluntary services manager, stated that the team was “thrilled” to receive the award. A spokesperson for Rush2theDen, a youth club that provides opportunities for young people, posted on social media: “I am so very proud of our 39 volunteers who support our local community through their tireless efforts – CONGRATULATIONS team”. The spokesperson further commented: “We would like to wish a Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King, we hope you have a wonderful day, you’ve certainly made ours!” For more Northamptonshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are available.