RoadPeace West Midlands has received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The West Midlands local support group meets in Birmingham and is attached to RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims. The group is made up of family members who have been suddenly and devastatingly bereaved through road crashes.

The group members volunteer providing vital support to others who experience this type of bereavement, raise awareness of the impact of road death, and campaign for change. They organise an annual Service of Remembrance, published an anthology telling the stories of road crash victims, and campaign on issues including second post-mortems and hit-and-run.

The Kings Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

RoadPeace West Midlands is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the award. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday.

Representatives of RoadPeace West Midlands will receive the award crystal and certificate from Sir John Crabtree, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands. In addition, longstanding coordinator, Lucy Harrison, and former facilitator, Jane Evans, will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

The West Midlands Group Coordinator, Lucy, said:

“Nine years ago when my brother was killed by a speeding hit-and-run driver, I really didn’t know how I would cope. The RoadPeace West Midlands group have become the family I never knew I needed, and I am proud to lead them.

“Each member of the group has been through unimaginable tragedy, yet they give their all to helping others. We all feel the lives of our loved ones have been recognised with this award and it has spurred us on to keep working for road crime to be viewed as real crime. We are hugely grateful to Rector Jeremy Allcock and Juliette Farrell from St. Martin in the Bull Ring, who have been of incredible support to our group and nominated us for this award.”

The RoadPeace West Midlands group

Updated on: 14 November 2023