A GROUP of ‘champions’ will receive its royal acclaim after being awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Hattersley Health Champions, volunteers who support health and wellbeing in the local community, was given the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Initially set-up in 2018 to support Hattersley Group Practice, the local GP surgery, the volunteering has expanded.
It now runs weekly craftwork and gentle exercise sessions, hosts Christmas and summer events and has created an award-winning keep-well garden at Hattersley Group Practice.
It has also organised a community music group and set-up an annual kids in crisis Christmas presents appeal, which has delivered thousands of gifts to children in Hattersley and Hyde over the past five years.
Its work now also covers environmental issues that impact health and wellbeing, it co-ordinates monthly litter picks in and around Hattersley and gets involved in tree-planting and garden makeover projects.
The group’s biggest environmental awareness project to date has involved working with six local primary schools to create a series of murals that explore the effects of climate change on health.
They now form a permanent art exhibition outside Hattersley Group Practice.
And at a prestigious ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, at Gorton Monastery, the King’s Award will be bestowed upon the volunteers.
Representatives will receive the award crystal and certificate from Diane Hawkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.
Two volunteers will also attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Grenville Lunn, Hattersley Health Champions chair, said: “The group of four volunteers are truly honoured to receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and they are immensely proud to receive this recognition.
“It is a real boost to have the champions’ work recognised with this award.
“Our volunteers have put in a lot of hard graft to establish the group and give it the momentum and direction it needs to thrive.
“It is special when we see, first hand, how people benefit from our work and it is the icing on the cake to have our contribution to our community recognised with the King’s Award.
“The group’s longest-running activity is the monthly Parkinson’s and dementia café, which is a friendly and relaxed affair with free food and is livened-up by Mike, our resident magician.
“The café provides those suffering with Parkinson’s and dementia with a point-of contact with the Tameside neuro-rehabilitation team and Parkinson’s UK, who regularly attend.
“We’d also like to pay tribute to our local network of voluntary groups, with whom we work side-by-side to create a caring and inclusive community. Also, thanks to our funders and supporters who help make our work possible.”
Hattersley Health Champions is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award.
And David Beckett, chief executive of gtd healthcare and main funder of the champions, added: “The commitment the champions have shown over the years has been exceptional.
“The time and effort they have invested really demonstrate their passion for not only improving the wellbeing of their community but for providing a safe space for people to engage in vital and meaningful conversations.
“Seeing how the champions have been able to use the funding for projects that are deeply rooted within these neighbourhoods is wonderful to see.”