RAF Ingham Heritage Group, a team of local volunteers based in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, 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.
The group is managed and run entirely by a community team of 25 British and Polish volunteers, who on a weekly basis undertake a wide variety of activities including: renovation, painting, gardening, research and act as visitor guides.
The Heritage Centre provides a wonderful focal point for a diverse cross-section of the community to meet and enjoy a wide range of activities, as well as learn new skills from the skilled trades people; but more importantly, they meet and socialise in a friendly and welcoming environment, as one big family.
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 14th November, The King’s Birthday.
The group will receive the crystal award and certificate from Mr Toby Dennis, Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, in early 2024; with two volunteers from the group attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace next summer, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Geoff Burton, Founder and Trustee said:
“We are extremely honoured and delighted to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, which highlights and recognises the incredible hard work, dedication and commitment of our amazing team of volunteers here at RAF Ingham. It is their enthusiasm, energy and friendship, which has made the group the enduring success it is today.
I am so proud of our entire team, who've worked so hard and given so much to create this wonderful Heritage Centre, in order to ensure this inspirational part of our joint Polish and British history is there for future generations."