Representatives of the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust receive the King's Award for Voluntary Service at the Award Ceremony.

Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, a group of volunteers based at the Morecambe landmark 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 Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust Limited is a registered charity completely volunteer run with no paid staff. With a board of Trustees drawn from the local community and over 45 volunteers we operate and restore the Grade II* listed theatre. Currently on the Buildings at Risk Register, it is one of the premier examples of Victorian seaside architecture but was left neglected and closed for many decades. Saved by the Preservation Trust and the former Friends of the Winter Gardens, the building is under restoration, with funding from Historic England, Theatres Trust and DCMS Arts Council. Over the past three years we have raised £4.6 Million towards the restoration and revitalisation of the venue.

Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

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. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social support network for disabled adults in Banffshire; a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in south Wales; volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality and social inclusion in County Antrim.

Representatives of Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust will receive the award crystal and certificate from Amanda Parker, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Chair Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Professor at the University of Sheffield, says: “I am delighted that our volunteer group’s hard work in helping bring new life to Morecambe Winter Gardens has been recognised. The commitment of the volunteers in helping raise vital funds for the regeneration of the venue, assisting with restoration work and helping open the building to the people of Morecambe and visitors to the town has been outstanding.”

See the new video celebrating the work of Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust at https://vimeo.com/884038461

Notes to Editors

      1. Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.

      1. This year there are 262 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.

      1. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

      1. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

      1. Nominations for the 2025 awards will open on the 1st June 2024.

    Chair Prof Vanessa Toulmin speaks at the Award Ceremony
    The KAVS recognises the outstanding work of the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust