Three groups receive King’s award for voluntary work

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002

Three voluntary groups in Northamptonshire have been honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest available to UK volunteer organisations.

St Andrew's Voluntary Services in Northampton, Northamptonshire Search and Rescue (NSAR), and Rush2TheDen in Rushden have all received the accolade for "outstanding work".

The King’s Award is regarded as the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups.

Representatives from each group will be presented with an award crystal and certificate later this year by James Saunders Watson, Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.

Established in 2013, NSAR provides rescue support to local emergency services

A spokesperson for NSAR said the group was “immensely proud” and “astonished” to be recognised by the King.

With a team of 48 volunteers, the group has been deployed to nearly 600 incidents, assisting in operations including missing-person searches and flood responses.

Most recently, the team helped with evacuation efforts at Billing Aquadrome during severe flooding.

The Voluntary Services team from St Andrew’s Healthcare was honoured for its volunteers' impact on the lives of hundreds of patients.

Currently, 450 volunteers contribute their time across St Andrew’s sites in Northampton, Birmingham, and Essex.

Dawn Wright, voluntary services manager, said the team was "thrilled" by the award.

Writing on social media, a spokesperson from Rush2theDen, a youth club helping young people with opportunities, said: "I am so very proud of our 39 volunteers who support our local community through their tireless efforts - CONGRATULATIONS team".

They added: "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!"