A "REMARKABLE" charity which dedicates itself to helping people who live in food poverty has been given a royal award to recognise the exceptional work it completes.
Barrow Foodbank was honoured in a lavish ceremony held on Tuesday where it proudly accepted the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, an accolade dubbed the 'MBE for charities', reserved only for outstanding contributions made to the community.
Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman, presented the award at The Forum in Barrow where she said: "To win this award is very special.
"There are quite a lot of people who apply and don't win because you've got to be exceptional.
"You are not just a foodbank, you are more than that; you go the extra mile for so many people.
"I wish you didn't need to exist but may you continue the work you're doing."
Since its inception five years ago, the foodbank has continued to grow in size, opening centres in Millom and Ulverston, as well as Barrow.
In 2016 alone the volunteers helped 7,448 people, seven per cent of the population across the Furness peninsula.
Joan Cockin, who has been a volunteer in Barrow since the group was founded, called the award "incredible" and said she was "very thankful".
She said: "The foodbank is run on love and sheer hard work."
Mike Atkinson, who volunteers at Bethany Christian Church in Victoria Road, Ulverston, praised the community spirit in the town which keeps the centre running.
He said: "Although we are a much more affluent area, we still see people in difficulty.
"We get help from companies like Booths and Glaxo but most is donated from ordinary people, and we donate more to Barrow than we give out - long may it continue.
"We have had people so ashamed of being in food poverty but it could happen to all of us."
Mr Atkinson said he was inspired to open the Ulverston branch after speaking with a lady who was forced to walk the five miles to Barrow last year.
He added: "These problems are long-lasting and some people are in desperate need."
At the end of the ceremony, Barrow Foodbank project manager Ann Mills highlighted the strong contribution made by the volunteers, saying the foodbank would not exist without them.
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