Baby bank volunteer boost after King's Award

Steph Capewell, pictured in the middle, said the award had helped attract more volunteers

A children's charity which has seen volunteers more than double in a year has been formally presented with the UK's highest voluntary award.

Love, Amelia, based in Sunderland, officially received the King's Award for Voluntary Service for its work across the city and County Durham last week.

Steph Capewell, who founded the charity in memory of her daughter, said the award was an "such an honour".

She added it had also helped raise awareness of the baby bank and bring more volunteers since its announcement last November.

"We've definitely had more volunteers come through [since November]. I think more people want to get involved," she said.

The Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear Lucy Winskell visited the charity's base in Hendon

Love, Amelia was founded in 2019 in memory of Ms Capewell's daughter Amelia who died in January 2018, just 12 minutes after she was born.

It offers support to families experiencing hardship and poverty, giving donated items to those in need.

The charity has welcomed more than 1,200 volunteers since its launch, with about 700 joining in 2024.

Ms Capewell said the King's Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to being appointed an MBE, helped bring extra credibility to the baby bank's work and made people more excited to join.

The Love, Amelia team officially received the award on 10 April

Two representatives of the charity will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.

"It's been a week of reflection for the team of what's happened over the last six years to get to the point where we've received an honour from the King," Ms Capewell said.

"It's really incredible."

The charity welcomed about 700 volunteers in a past year

Love, Amelia has distributed more than 13,000 parcels to families in need over the past six years.

"We don't want this work to be needed but for while there is poverty and hardship in the region we'll do absolutely do everything we can to support those families," Ms Capewell added.