Charity takes Hart from King's Award

TEESSIDE charity members are celebrating being awarded the The King's Award for Voluntary Service for 2025.

- By SUE KIRBY

The list of winners of this prestigious honour, the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and equivalent to an MBE, was announced today.

Hart Gables - an LGBTQ+ support service in Teesside and East Durham which has been around for more than two decades - provides emotional support to individuals living with poor mental health, those who are seeking asylum, and those who are living with physical and hidden disabilities.

Many of their service users face the harsh realities of recurring hate crimes, discrimination, poverty, and social isolation.

Sarah Lewis, the charity's CEO said: "We are absolutely thrilled that our charity has been recognised, especially at a time when our community faces many challenges.