AN appeal has gone out for East Lancashire residents to nominate outstanding voluntary groups for the 2023 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This UK National Honour, which has the equivalent status to the MBE, recognises the exceptional contribution made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.

In June this year, six Lancashire groups were amongst the recipients of the 2022 Award.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO, has made the appeal for nominations before this year’s deadline of September 15 .

Terry Hephrun, his lieutenant and chairman of the Lancashire Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Advisory Panel, said: "The award recognises excellence in volunteering and the six chosen organisations are great examples of the strong voluntary sector we have in Lancashire.

“In the nineteen years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, 83 groups from Lancashire have received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

“Past winners report that receiving the Award has helped with recruitment and even made a difference to fundraising.”

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Clr Phil Riley, said: “In our borough, we have so many volunteers and voluntary groups that go above and beyond every day to support their communities.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution that voluntary groups make to Blackburn with Darwen”.

This year’s winners from Lancashire were: The Friends of Rhyddings Park, Hyndburn; Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, Blackpool; Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary; Healthier Fleetwood; Cedar House, Preston; and New Neighbours Together, Burnley.