Leigh Miners Rangers and Portico Vine awarded King’s Awards for Voluntary Service

Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, the President of the Rugby Football League, today congratulated the thriving community clubs Leigh Miners Rangers and Portico Vine on receiving King’s Awards for Voluntary Service.

They were among 281 organisations recognised on the King’s 76th birthday, to reflect the countless hours of work done by hundreds of volunteers across both clubs to enhance the lives of so many youngsters.

Sir Lindsay said:

"As President of the Rugby Football League, I am delighted to congratulate all involved with the Leigh Miners Rangers and Portico Vine clubs for their thoroughly deserved King's Awards for Voluntary Service.

"Leigh and St Helens are great Rugby League towns, and that is built on the strength of their community clubs – who in turn are built on the contribution of so many volunteers.

“They deserve to be recognised among the best community sports clubs in the country and it's wonderful that they have received this recognition from His Majesty."

Tony Sutton, the Chief Executive of the RFL, added:

“Both Leigh Miners Rangers and Portico Vine received large grants from the CreatedBy facilities investment programme linked to the Rugby League World Cup two years ago.

“The strength of their applications for those grants underlined the quality of the people involved at these clubs, and it is the commitment and enthusiasm of the volunteers at community clubs such as Leigh Miners Rangers and Portico Vine which allows Rugby League to make such a positive and crucial social impact in towns such as Leigh and St Helens, and across the north of England.

“So in addition to congratulating the clubs for these deserved awards, we thank them for all they do, for the sport of Rugby League and for their communities.”

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteering groups in the UK. Equivalent to an MBE, The KAVS is awarded for life.

The award was first established in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee under the name of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). Following the accession of His Majesty The King, the award continues to celebrate the best of local volunteering across the UK yearly.