Region 's volunteer organisations recognised

Seventeen volunteer organisations across the West Midlands will be celebrating at a special presentation taking place at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Sunday.

The presentation will recognise the organisations as being recipients of the Queen 's Award For Voluntary Service (QAVS) in this extraordinary year when The Queen 's Platinum Jubilee was commemorated and Her passing was mourned.

The QAVS is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

There are six organisations from Birmingham, two from Coventry, two from Dudley, three from Sandwell, one from Solihull and three from Wolverhampton.

The Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE said; “These seventeen organisations are all run by volunteers that are dedicated in their support and generous in giving their time to make the communities they serve a much more enriched place to be. It is volunteers, like these, that make our region such a great place to live. ”

The Awards were announced on the anniversary of The Queen 's Coronation on 2 June and the organisations will receive their award from the Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

Interviews can be carried out in advance of the presentation on Sunday 30 October and filming and media are welcome on the day.

Please contact Julia Willoughby with any plans to cover or if help is needed for coordinating coverage- email [email protected] or mobile 07739403951.

Pictured: Birmingham-based Young At Heart charity workers who will be receiving a QAVS