THE QUEEN has given an Eastleigh volunteer group the highest award for its work in the community.

Members of the Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust have said they are ecstatic after discovering the organisation has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Now members are set to gather for a celebration today at The Pavilion on the Park where they run their group.

The youth and community centre serves people in Eastleigh and Hampshire by providing volunteer led sports, educational, social and arts activities for all ages and abilities.

Projects like The Pavilion’s Sensory 4 all, a multi-sensory room, and Cycles 4 all, 22 varied cycles to match differing disabilities, are some of the reasons they have been given the award.

Chairman of the trust’s board of voluntary trustees, Jim Vaughan, said: “None of our activities would be possible without the time dedicated to our community activities by our large team of enthusiastic and good humoured local volunteers. They make a difference to our local community. This is their award and I am delighted that their contribution has been recognised with this prestigious award”

The trust is one of 193 organisations to receive the Queen’s award this year for outstanding work in their communities.

First set up 54 years ago, the trust currently offers support from 70 volunteers for community events and is set to receive the Queen’s award later in the summer from the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson Esq.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Former broadcast journalist and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, 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.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, added: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer. I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.”