A voluntary group from Marple has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Stockport Canal Boat Trust has carried over 50,000 passengers on day trips for people with disabilities around the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals aboard the specially designed, wheelchair friendly, canal narrow boat New Horizons.
James Dunlop MBE, Chair of Trustees, said “This is a wonderful recognition for all of the volunteers who make the New Horizons such an important part of the Marple community.
“The trust is 35 years old this year and we would welcome any new volunteers who wish to be part of our award-winning team.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities and is the MBE for voluntary groups.
“The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis, said: “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.
“The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”
