A Coventry charity has been awarded the most prestigious award for volunteer groups in the UK.

Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) has received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) for 2018.

The award is the MBE for volunteer groups and was created by The Queen in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of her coronation. It is the highest award given to such groups and recognises the outstanding work carried out by organisations in their communities.

PYF is a non-profit organisation and has supported more than 3,000 young people across the city in the past year alone.

It works with more than 30 volunteers who carry out sport, education, music and training sessions as well as a range of other activities.

PYF works with a range of young people in their own communities, including those who find themselves in challenging circumstances.

It is the lead organisation in the Coventry Youth Partnership, which was formed over the past 12 months to carry out key youth work in the city.

The award was announced at an event at Buckingham Palace, with trustees Dean Kavanagh and Amy Foster representing the Foundation on the day.

Dean Kavanagh, chairman of the Positive Youth Foundation, said: “It was an incredible honour to represent PYF and accept the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on behalf of our team.

“The period during which I have worked with the organisation has been incredibly rewarding and this prestigious and national recognition is a true testament to the fantastic team at PYF.

“All of the team should be incredibly proud. Their commitment, dedication and resilience in the provision of services for our young people makes all of us as trustees incredibly proud and our own work all the more rewarding.

“This award reflects the outstanding commitment to our young people and youth services as a whole.”

An independent assessment committee, chaired by Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, chose the group for the award.

Amy Foster, trustee at PYF, added: “I am thrilled and honoured for the Positive Youth Foundation to be receiving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

“The staff and volunteers work tirelessly to enable young people to lead healthier lives and to make better choices for their future.

“As a former youth work professional, I fully understand the need to support young people through challenges that society presents.

“I have witnessed first-hand some of the various activities the charity offers and have been very impressed with the outcomes achieved by the participants.”