The Birmingham Hippodrome welcomed community and voluntary groups from across the Black Country on Sunday for the annual ceremony for the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour a voluntary organisation can receive.
The Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE presented the awards and certificates to each group on stage, with 10 organisations from Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton each getting a tribute video and their moment on stage to receive their awards.
Receiving awards were Champions Community Trust from Dudley, Cape Community Care Day Centre, New Beginnings Community and Student Voice from Sandwell, Cresswell Wanderers and Midland Freewheelers - Blood Bikes from Walsall and Parent & Carer Support Group, Wolverhampton Alz Café, Wolverhampton Samaritans, Wolverhampton Wrestling Club from Wolverhampton.
Sir John Crabtree praised the groups for their achievements, saying: "The organisations this year have excelled in offering services to others that simply would not exist if it weren’t for the volunteers who are passionate about making a difference to so many lives.”
Our Express & Star photographer was present on the day to capture the big moment for many of the groups as they arrived at Birmingham Hippodrome:
The current and new deputy lieutenants of the West Midlands pose before the ceremonyAmong the new deputy lieutenants are Pauline Black, lead singer of the Selecter.Members of the Parent and carer support group from WalsallThe Champions community trust from Dudley get ready for the ceremonyMelissa Bentley and Vicky Mitchell from Cresswell Wanderers FC from WalsallKerry and Barry Tipper arrive to represent Cresswell Wanderers FCLorraine and Geoff Gough from Midlands FreewheelersIt's a uniform look for Midland FreewheelersNew Beginnings from Sandwell were represented by Carrie Pearson and Peter SpenceNew Beginnings volunteers prepare for the eventBIRMINGHAM COPYRIGHT TIM STURGESS EXPRESS STAR 14/04/2024 Kings award for voluntary service at the Birmingham Hippodrome. New Beginnings volunteers..Student Voice from Sandwell had Christine Handy-Rivett, JJ O'Meara, Grace Popoola and Kerry Whitehouse in attendanceStudent Voice members come together for a photoAll attendees were given a souvenir guide to the eventMembers of Wolverhampton Samaritans pose ahead of the ceremonyWolverhampton Samaritans representatives David Marsh and Jenna WilkinsWolverhampton Alz Cafe membersThe full team from Wolverhampton Alz Cafe get ready for the eventMembers of Wolverhampton Wrestling club arrive at the HippodromeWolverhampton Wrestling club head coach Ranjit SinghThe Birmingham Hippodrome was packed out for the ceremonyThe Mayors of the region were in attendanceThe Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Michael Hardacre prepares to see groups from his city receive their awardsIt was a time for organisations to celebrate their achievementsOrganisations from across the West Midlands were in attendanceThe Lord Lieutenant Sir John Crabtree OBE presents the awardsCarrie Pearson and Peter Spence receive the award for New BeginningsIt's the big moment for Champions Community TrustEvery award winner was welcomed to the stage to music and rapturous applauseJenna Wilkins and David March accept the award for Wolverhampton SamaritansMelissa Bentley and Vicky Mitchell share a joke with the Lord Lieutenant as they accept Cresswell Wanderers awardThe Shireland Collegiate academy dance crew put on a show during the ceremony
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