On May 15th, Paul Cook and Ian Morris attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s award, after Darlington Harriers received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
We are one of 281 charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each year on 2 June; the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse.
They include volunteers helping people overcome mental health problems through sport, volunteers using caravans as mobile cafe/information centres in geographically remote locations and another group mentoring children who have a parent in prison. Representatives from the club will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Co. Durham later this summer, but this is recognition of everyone’s contribution.