Queen's Award equivalent to the MBE for charities
Two charities supporting elderly residents in Edinburgh have had their work recognised by the Queen.
Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club and LifeCare been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Both charities were recommended for awards by Edinburgh’s lord provost and lord lieutenant, Donald Wilson, who also takes on the role of the city's volunteering champion.
Both groups will be invited to attend a garden party at Holyrood Palace with the Queen in late Spring.
Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club provides a lunch club service for elderly and frail people in east Edinburgh while LifeCare supports the independence and wellbeing of older people including those with dementia and people who are housebound.
The local groups are two of 187 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact - Rob Wilson
The number of awards handed out to groups have increased by over 60% from 2014, due to an increase in high quality applications, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.
Volunteers from the charities will receive the award from Edinburgh’s Lord Provost later this summer.
The lord lieutenant Donald Wilson said: “The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups and recognises the outstanding work they provide within their local communities.
"I am delighted that not one but two of Edinburgh’s fantastic charities have been chosen by the Queen to receive this recognition.
"Both LifeCare and the Duddingston Kirk Lunch Club truly deserve the praise. It was an honour to recommend them personally for their voluntary service, and it will be my privilege to present them with their awards and certificates later this year.”
The UK government minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, added: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements.
"The hard work and commitment that goes into the work of these organisations is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer.
"I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a bigger, stronger society.”
