DEDICATED volunteers at five Bolton groups have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award — the highest accolade for volunteer groups in the UK — has been given to Bolton Solidarity Community Association, Hafway (Halliwell, Action, For, Working, Alongside, Youths), Halliwell Befriending Service, Westhoughton-based Senior Solutions and Kearsley Youth Brass Band.

Hafway, a youth project based at St Paul’s Community Centre in Halliwell, was recognised for helping young people across Bolton "to raise their aspirations, overcome their limitations and thrive despite their disadvantages.”

Bolton Solidarity Community Association, a self-help organisation set up in 2002 and working mainly in the Deane and Derby areas, received their award for “building strong communities that are outward looking” and for “playing a part in creating a dynamic, integrated Bolton.”

The Queen's Awards were also bestowed upon Halliwell Befriending Service, which provides home visits for the housebound and social activities to improve the quality of life for over 50s, and volunteer-led Senior Solutions, formerly Westhoughton Visiting Service. The group, based at Winifred Kettle Centre, has been honoured for “making a positive difference for older people by combating loneliness and isolation.”

Finally, Kearsley Youth Brass Band received the award for providing quality brass tuition and contributing to the musical education of young people in the community.

These five groups were among a record number of 281 voluntary bodies to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Independent Committee Chair Sir Martyn Lewis, said: "The record number of nominations for this year’s Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service proves that volunteering at a grassroots level continues to thrive.

"This year it is a real pleasure to congratulate 281 winners — all with strong reputations for successfully tackling a wide variety of issues and problems in their communities. They are powerful examples of real democracy in action."