A NORTH Yorkshire charity has received a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020.

Home-Start Richmondshire is one of 230 charities across the UK to be given the award, which is the highest given to local volunteer groups designed to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

Known as the MBE for volunteer groups, the recognition comes as Home-Start Richmondshire celebrates ten years of supporting families with young children.

The Richmondshire team of four part time staff and 40 volunteers work with families with at least one child under the age of seven right across the district and focuses on those experiencing physical, emotional and mental health problems, bereavement, financial challenges, isolation and many other issues.

Recipients of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, are announced on June 2 each year, which is the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Representatives from Home-Start Richmondshire will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire later this summer. Furthermore two representatives from Home-Start Richmondshire will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021.

Chair of Trustees Diane Hammal said: “I am delighted that the work of our dedicated team of volunteers has been recognised with this award.

"I want to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment they show every day working with families that need our support. Our board of trustees also give their valuable time to support our project and our staff who go that “extra mile” to provide support and guidance to our volunteers."

The organisation has adapted its service to continue supporting families whilst following government guidelines throughout the coronavirus pandemic.