Mayor praises South Tyneside groups honoured with Queen's Award

The South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade and the Friends of Hebburn Cemetery were given the honour – the highest possible merit for voluntary organisations – in the latest round of awards.

Friends of Hebburn Cemetery was cited as being “a vibrant hub aimed at supporting the bereaved and providing wider community enjoyment”.

South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade was honoured for “providing a 24-hour, seven days a week volunteer search and rescue in support of HM Coastguard”.

Mayor of South Tyneside Councillor Pat Hay said: “I’m delighted to hear that both South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade and the Friends of Hebburn Cemetery have been announced as recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Award.

“The Queen’s Award is the highest award given to voluntary and charitable organisations and, coinciding with Volunteers’ Week this year, it recognises the vital and growing role that the voluntary sector has played, and continues to play, in supporting our communities through the coronavirus pandemic.

“Both organisations make an outstanding contribution to voluntary service in the Borough and this award is testament to all their hard work and commitment to local communities, not only over this past, extremely challenging year, but beyond. Well done to them both. This is a fantastic achievement and wonderful news for South Tyneside.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

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