Jackpot for Meca as group is handed top Royal honour for work to transform their community

LOCAL HEROES HERALDED AFTER TURNING 'DEPRIVED' AREA OF CITY AROUND

- By SOPHIE BUSCIMESE

COMMUNITY heroes who have helped transform an area of Derby have been recognised by the King for their efforts across the past two decades.

Mackworth Estate Community Association (Meca), which has been operating since 2002, has received the King's Award for Voluntary Service for "facilitating community cohesion and maximising the wellbeing and opportunities of Mackworth residents".

The King's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK, with the recipients announced on the King's birthday in November each year.

"It's fantastic, very, very exciting, and we hope that off the back of this we can manage to get more funding to help even more people," said volunteer Mike Walsh.