PAT on the Back awards have been given to East Lancashire’s volunteers and community workers.

Winners include a team working to protect women from domestic abuse, residents who set up their own youth group and a health team who have saved the NHS tens of thousands of pounds.

In its second year, the Pat on the Back awards, launched by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), made up of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Capita, NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire Police, Blackburn College, recognise outstanding and exceptional work in the community.

The award for ‘team of the year’ has been given to Women’s Aid in recognition of the ongoing work carried out by their domestic abuse team. The team has seen referrals rise by 66 per cent in the last year but judges said they had continued to go the extra mile to make sure victims are safe.

Their projects have resulted in the opening of a new safe house, the first forced marriage protection orders in the borough and the support of numerous victims through the courts.

Other winners include the community matron team at NHS Blackburn with Darwen, which works to avoid emergency hospital admissions for patients with long term conditions, saving the NHS over £84,000, while improving care for patients.

Christine Robinson and Pat Cocker, of Highercroft Action Group, won teh neighbourhood award after setting up a Friday night youth club which has cut youth anti social behaviour in the area.

Mike Murray, chairman of the Local Strategic Partnership, said: "These are examples of outstanding commitment, innovation, enthusiasm and dedication which are really making a difference to the lives of people across the borough."

The 15 winners each receive a trophy and £700 to spend on further improving their service.

Full list of winners

Children and young people: Patrick Moulden, Blackburn College.

Improving access: Lynn Peake and the help desk team, Care Network.

Environment: John Gibson, Twin Valley Homes.

Health and wellbeing: Early intervention health team, Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus.

Innovation and leadership: Paul Cutner, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Neighbourhoods: Christine Robinson and Pat Cocker, Highercroft Action Group.

Partnership working: Shared neighbourhood teams, LSP, south east Blackburn.

Community cohesion: Denise Bibby, Prospect Homes.

Learning delivery/learning support: Skills team, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Long term health conditions/chronic disease management: Will Sullivan, NHS Blackburn with Darwen.

Economic regeneration: Master plan development team/University centre staff, Blackburn College.

Community safety: Teresa Southworth, Spar manager, Mill Hill.

Public engagement: Donna Thomas, Peter Little, Elise Carrol, Carol Turner, Jonathan Tew, David Wright, Bev Craig, Gavin Redhead, Julie Astley and Anna Ainscough, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Julie Manton, Connexions and Denise Hayhurst Blackburn College.

Services closer to home: Community matron team, NHS Blackburn with Darwen.

Team of the year: Women’s Aid team for domestic abuse.