A CHARITY which strives to reduce health inequalities across County Durham and the Tees Valley has been given the royal seal of approval.

The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), based in Newton Aycliffe, has been operating for almost two decades - providing disadvantaged communities with opportunities to learn and improve their health and wellbeing.

This week the organisation was officially handed the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sue Snowdon.

At the presentation event at the Pioneering Care Centre, on Carer’s Way, on Wednesday, Mrs Snowdon said: “I am delighted that all the dedication and commitment of your staff and volunteers and the much needed and greatly appreciated care services that you provide have been recognised and rewarded.”

PCP was established in 1998 with 12 volunteers and today has nearly 100 members of staff and 200 volunteers who work across a range of services with more than 200,000 people every year. While it has its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, it has 30 outreach projects across the North-East.

It its 18 years of operation it has provided hundreds of people with life-enhancing opportunities and has benefitted from an estimated 60,000 volunteer hours.

Mrs Snowdon added the award nomination cited the “dedicated team of trustees” behind the charity. Among them was Michael Dalton, of Newton Aycliffe, who sat on the board from the outset.

The former Mayor of Great Aycliffe and Great Aycliffe Town Councillor died in June, aged 52.

Born with spina bifida, the committed townsman had battled health problems throughout his life.

At the ceremony, attended by Mr Dalton’s mother and four times former Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Mary Dalton, a plaque commemorating his dedication was unveiled in the centre’s garden.

Paying tribute to the “devoted founder trustee”, Mrs Snowdon said: “Michael will be sadly missed but very fondly remembered by all of us.”

Among the dignitaries were PCP chairman Melanie Fordham, Lord Derek Foster and his wife Lady Anne, Phil Wilson MP and former PCP chief executive Jane Hartley.