The Friends of Didsbury Park, a group of volunteers based in Didsbury, Manchester have just been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
This friendly volunteer group meets every Monday morning, no matter what the weather, and since its inception in 2014 has transformed Didsbury Park from its derelict state into a beautiful park loved by the local community. In a national competition in 2022, Didsbury Park was voted by the public to be the Favourite Park in Manchester. The Didsbury Park Volunteers have undertaken over 38,000 hours of volunteer work in the park since 2014. According to Brian Johnson, Chair and Lead Volunteer, “we have an amazing group of volunteers, a real cross section of individuals who all love being part of a team which has created something special for our community.”
The Friends of Didsbury Park is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.
Recipients are announced annually on 14 November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social support network for disabled adults in Banffshire; a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in South Wales; volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality and social inclusion in County Antrim.
Six representatives of the Friends of Didsbury Park will receive the award crystal and certificate from Diane Hawkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. In addition, two volunteers from the Friends of Didsbury Park will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award. Brian Johnson said: “I am absolutely delighted that the hard work and commitment of the Didsbury Park Volunteers over many years has been recognised by the presentation of this major award.”
Find out more about the Friends of Didsbury Park on their website: www.friendsofdidsburypark.com