Grantham RiverCare Honoured with Prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Grantham RiverCare, a group of passionate volunteers who are dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the River Witham, have been acknowledged with the esteemed King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This award marks the highest level of national recognition volunteer groups can receive in the UK.

This award represents recognition for over twenty years of outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and community by the group. Since its origination in 2004, Grantham RiverCare has conducted over 150 cleaning campaigns, managing to collect a minimum of 30 tonnes of waste. Additionally, they have extended their efforts towards managing habitats and observing wildlife along the River Witham.

The group leaders, David Martin and Ian Simmons, have expressed their appreciation for this honour, emphasising that the award is a testament to the hard work of every one of their volunteers. They dedicated a special mention to the group’s founder, John Knowles.

The King’s Award will be bestowed upon Grantham RiverCare by Toby Dennis, the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, representing the King. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, commended the group’s motivational dedication towards safeguarding the River Witham and its green spaces.

This article is based on original reporting made available by the BBC.