Mountain Rescue England and Wales

The Cave Rescue Organisation from Clapham, North Yorkshire, has been announced as one of 103 UK volunteering groups to win this year’s The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.  It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.

The Cave Rescue Organisation has received the Award for outstanding and exceptional service rescuing fell walkers, cavers, climbers and animals for the last 75 years. Formed in 1935, they are the oldest constituted cave rescue team in the UK, saving lives above and below ground in the Yorkshire Dales.

Winners of this year’s Award were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

The Cave Rescue Organisation will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in North Yorkshire, Lord Craythorne at a special ceremony.  The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

Speaking of their success, Jack Pickup, Chairman of The Cave Rescue Organisation said: “We are extremely honoured and proud to accept this prestigious award in recognition of our long-standing and dedicated service to the community. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all the volunteers past and present who make up our team, plus everyone who has supported us over the past 75 years.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,

“Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together.  It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of The Cave Rescue Organisation with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others.”

More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice, where a nomination form can be downloaded.