Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs have received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs have received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and equivalent to an MBE.
The charity was founded in 2020 and provides specially designed and manufactured all-terrain wheelchairs and other equipment to enable those with additional needs and disabilities to go on the beach.
The service is free to clients and since opening, more than 1,300 have used the service, with ages ranging from babies to over 100 years. The charity is run completely by volunteers and funded through donations and occasional grants.
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups nationally to receive the prestigious award this year.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty the King. 2024 marks the second year of The Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
Representatives of Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs will receive the award crystal and certificate from Amanda Parker, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire and two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Michael Gray, founder of the charity and chair of Trustees, said “The Trustees are delighted that their hard work and the dedication and devotion of our volunteers has been recognised at the highest level.
"This honour demonstrates what can be achieved and also recognises the leading part our town has played in providing this valuable service.”
Fleetwood Wheelchairs are among nine groups of volunteers based in Lancashire which have been honoured with The King’s Award.
Winners locally also include: Care for Cleveleys, Poulton Community Hall and Chorley's Angels First Aid Community Group.
Mrs Parker said: "In Lancashire, we are very fortunate to have such a vibrant voluntary sector and I very much hope we will see more excellent groups recommended for the Award in the future. I know that the people of Lancashire will look at the brilliant and essential work that voluntary groups and charities have been doing and will feel encouraged to make a nomination.”