EAST Lancashire came up trumps as three East Lancashire groups took home a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Music group The Accy Rockers, won their award for their charitable efforts and support for the people of Hyndburn.

Brookhouse Development Group in Blackburn, was given its award for inspiring people to create positive change in the borough.

One Voice Blackburn was told it had created a cohesive and vibrant community through its work.

A record 250 voluntary groups from across the UK will received receive an award.

The national honour was created by the Queen to mark the golden jubilee in 2002 and to recognise the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Volunteers from the Brookhouse Development Group taking part in CPR training

Chairman of One Voice Abrar Hussain said: “We are thrilled to receive this award.

“This accolade is a real testament to the invaluable and far reaching work of all our volunteers.

“This tremendous recognition is a tribute to their tireless efforts.”

A spokesperson for the Brookhouse Development Group said, "It is with great pleasure that all of us at Brookhouse Development Group (BHDG) have been awarded this prestigious accolade for voluntary service.

"We would like to thank all members of our community and the various organisations we have partnered with over the years. This is a true testament to our amazing team of volunteers who dedicate their time and passion to all our projects and work supporting our community.

"We would also like to congratulate all the 250 recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - a fantastic achievement for all worthy winners."

Tracey Crouch, minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: “Everyone who has received this award should be incredibly proud. Their service, commitment and care has a profoundly positive impact on communities throughout the country and I am delighted they have been recognised with this prestigious award.

“The record number of recipients this year is testament to the strength of the voluntary sector and I am sure this trend will continue into the future. If you know any organisations that deserve to be recognised, make your voice heard and nominate them for next year.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service independent committee chairman, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said: “This year’s record number of Queen’s Award awardees are a powerful testimony to the remarkable achievements and innovative ideas which characterise volunteering in the UK.

“They prove that, more than ever, volunteers beavering away at grassroots level are the active lifeblood of our communities, identifying all kinds of problems and issues and tackling them with enthusiasm, talent and a high degree of success.

“The recipients of the Queen’s Award are at the very top of a formidable volunteering movement in the UK involving millions of our citizens, and going from strength to strength.”

Nominations for the 2019 awards close on 14 September 2018.