Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club received news of the award ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this weekend.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom.
The award recognises the Rotary club’s amazing work in the community. In their nomination, the Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotarians are described as going “far beyond fund-raising, as they improve life for the whole community through an impressive range of environmental, social and youth projects”.
One of the Deputy Lord Lieutenants of the county came along and spent the best part of a day with us when we showed her around our many projects.”
Rotary club Secretary, Cath Heap, said they were thrilled with news of the award.
The Rotary club has been active in nurturing an adopted woodland in the area, as well as organising litters picks in the woodland which has been neglected for 35 years.
They have also been caring for the garden in the town’s library which has been neglected.
Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club has also been working at the railway station to keep it tidy. They shipped a whisky barrel from Scotland which was painted and planted with colourful flowers to put on the platform.
Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club have been nurturing and adopted woodland in the area.
Cath said that they were visited by one of Lancashire’s Deputy Lord Lieutenants earlier this year to assess the work of the club.
“We weren’t assessed on one specific aspect of volunteering, rather we had to prove that we were providing financial, social, health and education services to the local community,” explained Cath.
“We were also assessed on promoting well-being, reducing loneliness and isolation, as well as maintaining park/woodland for the benefit of the whole community.
“One of the Deputy Lord Lieutenants of the county came along and spent the best part of a day with us when we showed her around our many projects.”
The Rotary club will be presented with their prestigious award on July 11th. A total of 244 recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service were announced on June 2nd.
These outstanding local volunteer groups are based all over the UK and represent grassroots volunteering at its very best.
In their nomination, the Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotarians are described as going “far beyond fund-raising, as they improve life for the whole community through an impressive range of environmental, social and youth projects”.”
They show the many ways in which committed bands of volunteers are working to make things better for everyone in the local community and getting alongside those who are struggling.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service website states: “The last couple of years have brought new challenges for almost everyone – increasing the isolation felt by older people, undermining education and opportunities for the young and affecting our mental and physical health.
“Now that we are coming out of the pandemic, there is plenty of work to be done to help us get back on track again.
“As always, volunteers are at the forefront of initiatives everywhere, whether it’s providing essential help or giving us access to the things that make life special, such as live performances and beautiful places.”
