A COMMUNITY leisure and fitness centre has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Tyldesley’s The Pelican Centre has today been given the award in recognition of the work carried out by countless community volunteers to engage the community in health and fitness activities.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, and is equivalent to an MBE.
The Pelican Centre is one of 244 charities and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
Representatives from the Pelican Centre will receive the Award crystal and certificate from Sir Warren Smith, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, later this summer.
The Pelican Centre is a community-led leisure facility.
Formerly Tyldesley Baths, the entirely self-funded registered charity, run by volunteers and a small team of staff, was rescued by a volunteer community group in 2012 and offers swimming sessions, lessons, a fully-equipped gym and classes, and room hire for groups.
The not-for-profit Centre uses memberships to support the Tyldesley, Astley, Atherton and surrounding communities with activities such as free swimming lessons, room hire, facilities and toiletries for the homeless, and volunteering opportunities.
The Pelican Centre’s Business Manager Natalia Stothard said: “Over the last 10 years, our volunteers, staff, trustees and local people have joined together to establish the Pelican as a focal point and much-needed facility in the area.
“As an independent charity, we are so grateful to every volunteer who donates their time to ensure the continued success of the Centre, and we are thrilled to accept the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on behalf of our whole community.”
Pelican Centre Chair of Trustees Paul Costello added: “The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is well-earned recognition of the dedication and tireless work undertaken by so many to create a successful and popular asset in the Pelican Centre.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of organisations such as ours, and the QAVS is testament to the commitment of everyone who has given time, resource and skills for the wider benefit of our community in Tyldesley and the local area.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups that benefit their communities and was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
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