Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, a Northampton-based charity providing essential community welfare services, were awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service back in November of last year. This esteemed award, presented by The Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson, is the highest recognition a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

Since its inception as a food larder during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020, The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation has expanded its services significantly. The charity now provides essential food supplies to multiple Northamptonshire organisations, including more than 80 schools. The charity also hosts social clubs focused on wellbeing, ensuring no member of the community is left struggling or alone, and offers home and garden renovations and educational services.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and aims to acknowledge outstanding work by volunteer groups. Recipients are announced annually on November 14, the King’s Birthday. The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation’s recognition highlights the remarkable contributions of its volunteers and the significant impact the charity has made in Northamptonshire.

Teresa McCarthy-Dixon, Founder of The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, expressed her gratitude: “We are so, so honoured to receive this award. Our amazing team of volunteers are the absolute heart of our charity, and we couldn’t do what we do without their amazing continued support. It is a delight to have made such a significant impact in Northamptonshire, and for everybody’s hard work to be recognised in such a fantastic way. I want to say a huge thanks to all of our volunteers, trustees, and donors - this wouldn’t have been possible without their support.”

The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation's Volunteers, Sponsors and Community with the Lord Lieutenant

Steve Summers, Chair of the Charity’s Board of Trustees, added: “We are absolutely delighted that the outstanding dedication and commitment of our volunteers and trustees has been recognised with this prestigious award.”

To formally commemorate their efforts, Northamptonshire’s Lord Lieutenant, James Saunders-Watson, presented the official Award Crystal on Friday 24th May, as part of the charity’s official celebration event. As well as the organisation receiving the award crystal, their core volunteers also received King’s Award for Voluntary Service pin badges, to recognise their individual efforts for the charity. The celebration was held from 12 to 2pm and was open to all of The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation’s volunteers, sponsors and friends.

The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation celebrate receiving the King’s Award for Voluntary Service