ONE of Britain's oldest and largest volunteering charities was honoured as part of national volunteer week.

The Royal Voluntary Service, who provide vital community services in Trafford were honoured at a special event celebrating their achievements at Trafford Town Hall on Friday June 7.

The event, which was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will celebrate twelve volunteers from Trafford Patient Transport, which is commissioned by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Trafford Council, and delivered by Royal Voluntary Service. Volunteers provide transport patients to and from rehabilitation programmes who would be unable to get to their appointments without their support.

Debra Maloney, Service Manager for the Rehabilitation Services said: “This service has been invaluable; we simply wouldn’t be able to offer the range of clinical rehabilitation programmes to our patients without the support of Royal Voluntary Service. We have worked with them for so long now that we are privileged to consider the drivers part of our team.

At the event, three volunteers were also presented with long service awards; Ruth Asha was presented with the 10 year service award, and David Sapple and Chris Moore were recognised for five years’ service to the scheme. Volunteers also enjoyed food from Good Mood Food, a social enterprise run by Manchester Mind.

Joan Hamilton, Service Manager for Trafford Patient Transport said: “The group of volunteers we celebrated at the event are an incredible example of the hard work and dedication of all our volunteers. They should be incredibly proud of what they do; they make a huge difference to the people they help and communities they support, and I’m sure they’d all agree that they also thoroughly enjoy what they do.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “We’re delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported Royal Voluntary Service to run celebration events during Volunteers’ Week. Volunteers give their time so selflessly to help others and it’s heart-warming to be able to show them just how much they are valued.”