Two groups of Island volunteers have been honoured with The King's Award for Voluntary Service.
WightSAR and South Wight Area Youth (SWAY) have achieved the highest award that a voluntary group can receive in the UK — the equivalent of an individual being awarded an MBE.
WightSAR (Isle of Wight Search and Rescue) has been recognised for their selfless work across the Island.
WightSAR volunteers are on call day and night throughout the year to search for missing people who are deemed by the police to be at significant risk of harm to themselves.
Once called by the police, WightSAR teams are deployed with a coordinated search plan to locate the missing person. Their dedicated work over the last ten years has saved countless lives on the Island.
South Wight Area Youth has also been recognised.
SWAY volunteers work tirelessly to support young people in the south of the Isle of Wight. Volunteers mentor children in schools, run regular activities and clubs each week, work with families and schools, and lead a variety of expeditions and camps at weekends and school holidays, including a week-long visit to the Lake District.
The group has raised more than £600,000 to build a community hub in Chale, which is expected to open next April.
The Island winners are amongst only 281 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 volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the late Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
The awards are announced annually on November 14 to coincide with the King’s birthday.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, said:
"The amount of voluntary work carried out on the Island never ceases to amaze me.
"We have over 1,500 voluntary and community organisations, and I am delighted that another two of our wonderful groups have been recognised with this award."
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