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Sports Driving Unlimited receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Sports Driving Unlimited, a voluntary group based in Lockerbie, has been honouredwith the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

For the past 13 years, Sports Driving Unlimited (SDU) has provided opportunities for
disabled people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of pony carriage driving. It provides a
safe environment for children, young people and adults who have a disability, mental
or behavioural difficulties or a terminal illness, to drive a pony and carriage with all the
therapeutic benefits, fun and excitement that comes with the experience. It offers
regular carriage driving lessons, and organises competitions, with some disabled
drivers participating in regional and national driving events.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by
volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. Recipients are announced each
year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Sports Driving Unlimited’s chairperson, Brenda Hodgson, described the award as a
great honour for everyone involved: “We are so proud of the tireless work our
volunteers do to raise money, to look after the ponies and equipment, to organise
events – everything that allows us to continue with our activities. We can see the
difference these make to people’s lives but to have them recognised in this way is
simply wonderful. It’s a tribute to the hard work of everyone involved and a wonderful
morale-booster!”
These are tough times for the voluntary sector, says Brenda Hodgson: “Not only has
the lock down had an effect on all charities’ ability to raise funds, but our drivers are
those for whom social isolation is a real problem and the coronavirus is a real threat. It
may be some time before they able to venture out again. I hope the news of this
award gives them all a lift.”

SDU is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the UK to
receive the award this year. They include a community shop in Cornwall, a group
working with refugees and vulnerable people in Stirling and a thriving community arts
centre in County Down.

2007 – 2020

Sports Driving registered office Cleuchheads, Balgray, Lockerbie, DG11 2RN [email protected]

Funding gratefully received from: Rotary Clubs of
Annan, Dumfries &
Lockerbie & District
Dumfries & Galloway Life
Charity of The Year 2012

Representatives of Sports Driving Unlimited will receive the award from Fiona
Armstrong, Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries later this summer. Furthermore, two
volunteers from Sports Driving Unlimited will attend a garden party at Holyroodhouse
in July 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

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