Record-breaking turnout for King's Awards and Honours Workshop in Lancashire

A spirit of civic pride and community celebration filled Accrington Stanley's 1968 Lounge as the recent King's Awards and Honours Workshop drew its biggest audience to date, marking a milestone moment for Lancashire.

 Hosted by Amazing Accrington Chairman Murray Dawson and featuring inspiring contributions from Helen Bingley OBE JP DL, OASST Chairman Peter Leatham and Tony Grimshaw OBE, the event offered practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement to nominate outstanding volunteer groups and individuals for prestigious national recognition — including the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) and the UK Honours system (BEM, MBE, OBE, CBE, DBE, KBE).

 Attendees learned how to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who make Lancashire communities stronger, fairer, and more connected.

From eligibility tips to nominator support and real success stories, the workshop empowered locals to take action and ensure Lancashire gets the recognition it deserves.

Tony Grimshaw said: "We must celebrate and elevate the incredible contributions happening right here in Lancashire, where people are civic minded and so generous with their time and effort!

"Over 1.2m residents in Lancashire and we received 12 awards in the King's Birthday List, while Guernsey has a population of 64k and received 7 - please get nominating our local heroes, then we receive our fair share of the national spotlight!"

 Helen Bingley added: "The King's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest recognition a local volunteer group can receive in the UK. Lancashire is full of exceptional people making a real difference — now is the time to tell their stories!

"As a former recipient, I can say how much it added to the work we were able to complete and the awareness we could bring to our cause."

 Murray Dawson, chairman of Amazing Accrington, who hosted the event, said: "The response to this event has been nothing short of phenomenal.

"It shows just how passionate people in Lancashire are about recognising and celebrating the unsung heroes working quietly in our communities."

 The workshop's success reflects a growing commitment across the county to ensure local volunteer groups and individuals receive the national spotlight they've earned. It was made possible by the generous support of the OASST and Accrington Stanley offering their facilities free of charge.

 With nominations soon open for the next round of honours, the message is clear: Lancashire is ready to lead the way.

 For more information on how to nominate:

https://www.gov.uk/honours/nominate-someone-in-the-uk

https://www.lancashire-lieutenancy.org

 You can see more about everything Hyndburn has to offer on the #AmazingAccrington website here: www.amazingaccrington.co.uk