Queen's Award for Voluntary Service given to Weymouth charity boat
The Friends of MV Freedom offer trips to sea for those with disabilities
A charity that offers trips to sea for disabled people has been honoured with an award from the Queen.
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The group have provided access to the sea for those people living with disability since 1984, and have recently taken delivery of their fourth boat, a twin engined motor catamaran which provides sea trips along the Jurassic Coast, Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay.
The Chairman of the Charity Dirk Aldous said:
"Our charity has carried tens of thousands of delighted passengers over the years, and for this honour and recognition on top of the delivery of a brand new boat for this season after nine years of fundraising, could not have come at a better time.
"It is a huge tribute to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers over many years, and particularly to the generous donations received from every element of the Weymouth and Portland communities and beyond.
"I hope that all our supporters will feel able to share with us, our delight and pride in this wonderful moment in the Charity's history!"
Friends of MV Freedom, is one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
Representatives of Friends of MV Freedom will receive the award crystal and certificate from, Angus Campbell, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset later this summer. Furthermore two volunteers from Friends of MV Freedom will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year's Award.