King gives top award to Ashton United in the Community volunteers

Volunteers at Ashton United in the Community (AUITC), have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. 

It’s the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

AUITC is the bridge between the football club and the community, supporting the work of volunteers with projects, events,and community activities.

Based in Hurst, AUITC offers volunteers the chance to improve their confidence, physical and mental health and wellbeing, and giving them skills and knowledge that may lead to employment. 

Together with volunteering at events taking place at AUFC’s Hurst Cross, the volunteers support a number of projects that tackle issues associated with the deprivation, poverty, loneliness, isolation, poor health and wellbeing, community safety, lack of education and unemployment.

AUITC is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. 

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Recipients are announced annually on November 14, which is the King’s Birthday. 

A spokesman said: “Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire; a group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales; volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling and an organisation providing opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.”

Representatives of AUITC will receive the award crystal and certificate from Diane Hawkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester later this year.  In addition, two volunteers from AUITC will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Project Manager Steve Hobson said: “The volunteers at AUITC have changed the face of the community in Hurst.

“Local people giving back to local people and encouraged to do so by the football club and our partners has seen some remarkable outcomes, both for the individuals and the community as a whole. We are thrilled to be recognised in this way, an award that will lift spirits and boost everyone’s desire to do even more.”