A church project which supports people struggling to make ends meet has received an award from His Majesty the King.
Shildon Alive, which serves the town of Shildon in County Durham, has been handed the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, following an announcement by the Government today (14 November).
Run by staff and volunteers with the support of St John’s Church in Shildon, the project has a hub with a kitchen where it provides hundreds of meals each week for individuals, children and families facing challenging circumstances.
Previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, this year marks the first award in the name of His Majesty King Charles III.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary organisations. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer expressed her gratitude to the 262 organisations across the UK which have received the award this year.
She added: “Each year, millions of volunteers give up their time to provide care and support, and this award recognises those truly making a difference to the lives of others across the United Kingdom. It’s brilliant to see the King continue the legacy of Her Late Majesty and reward those who support their local communities with kindness and compassion.”
Project manager at Shildon Alive, Paula Nelson, said: “Our team at Shildon Alive are committed to supporting our community every day of the year. We are enormously proud to receive this prestigious award. The atmosphere in the hub is well and truly alive today.”
The Revd Carol Harris, Priest in Charge at St John’s, Shildon, Chair of Shildon Alive, said: “I am proud and delighted to hear that Shildon Alive has received this national award which recognises all the hard work, commitment and compassion of the staff and volunteers. We have an amazing team who make such a difference to our community.”
Sue Snowdon, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County Durham said: “I am delighted to congratulate Shildon Alive on this wonderful recognition by His Majesty the King. They are a shining example of a community group making an extensive and crucial difference to families and individuals.”
Shildon Alive’s kitchen makes fresh meals out of surplus supermarket food. It has a shop where people can pick up take-away meals. There’s a paid menu for those who can afford it, while food is available on a donation basis to vulnerable adults, and free meals are available to school-age children.
The project runs a food bank, a credit union and also provides support for people facing issues such as financial poverty and unemployment. This includes help with benefit claims and enquiries, housing matters and digital skills, as well as small grants for household goods, rent arrears and utilities.
Volunteers also include drivers who distribute meals on wheels, while the catering team provides opportunities for young people to work with food, grow in confidence and potentially lead to careers in the industry.
Other initiatives developed by the project include cooking workshops and gardening activities.
Shildon Alive provides crisis support, works to alleviate social isolation, and offers free meals to all school age children
Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the King’s Award for Voluntary Service Chair said: “The awardees work selflessly as groups of volunteers to address every conceivable kind of local issue across all our communities. We owe them huge congratulations, but also much more than that for the inestimable value they bring to our society.”
Pictured above: Some of the team members at Shildon Alive. Credit: Shildon Alive