WATCH: Home-Start Garioch receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Home-Start Garioch have been supporting families across the Garioch and Formartine areas for over 28 years and have seen an expansion of their services in recent years to cover the Huntly and Aberchirder areas.
In recognition of their efforts to aid local families, the group which comprises of 12 volunteer board members and 89 home visiting volunteers based in Inverurie were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in November.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
They joined several other north-east recipients including Enable Deveronside in Banff, Stonehaven and District Men's Shed, Aboyne's horticultural and outdoor therapy group Seed Box, Buchanhaven Harbour SCIO and AberNecessities in Aberdeen.
On Wednesday, the group were visited by Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Sandy Manson who made the formal presentation of their award to manager Mhairi Phillip and Angela Gowdie BEM.
Mhairi Philip, Scheme Manager said: "It is a huge honour, privilege, and a wonderful way to recognize our volunteers.
"Our volunteers are the backbone of the organisation.
"It is their support which makes the difference, brings about change and increases positive outcomes for the families."
She continued: "Home-Start Garioch support families through their most challenging times.
"We recognise that the earliest years make the biggest impact and we want to ensure those years count by working with families to build on their strengths and give them the support they tell us they need.
"This is a a unique service, recruiting and training volunteers, usually parents themselves.
"Parents supporting parents through friendship offering practical and emotional support."
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.
