A HOMELESS charity based in Poole which is run by a group of volunteers has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Routes to Roots has been given the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, which is equivalent to an MBE.

The Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne and R2R’s Patron, said: “I am delighted that the whole team at Routes to Roots have been recognised in this way.

"The volunteers, trustees and supporters have all worked so hard not only to continue to care and provide for rough sleepers and the homeless in Poole through challenging times, but to increase provision through the recent purchase and refurbishment of the Genesis Centre.”

Routes to Roots has been helping the homeless and vulnerably housed in Poole for the past 20 years and now runs the town’s first building solely dedicated to helping the homeless.

The Genesis Centre, which opened in March 2022, “is destined to become the hub for all support and help available locally from charities, churches and local authorities, a one-stop place of change.”

The Queen’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 The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Representatives of Routes to Roots will receive the award crystal and certificate from Angus Campbell, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, later this summer.

In addition, two volunteers from Routes to Roots will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

The Revd Pat Southgate, founder rrustee of Routes to Roots, said: “Who would have thought 20 years ago, that those first volunteers who reached out in faith to become the charity Routes to Roots would one day, along with all the many others who have joined us over the years, receive the Queens Award for Volunteers.

“I am immensely proud of all the dedicated volunteers who make Routes to Roots and I hope they are proud of themselves for all they have achieved over those last 20 years. I hope we never forget that this much-deserved award is not just for today but will be ours forever.”