A CHARITY working towards making our world a greener place has been handed a prestigious King’s Award. 

PACE Manningtree has been awarded the award for voluntary service in acknowledgement of its work protecting the environment in north Essex.

The organisation is a registered charity which started in 2019 in response to a heartfelt Facebook post from Sarah Smith, who is now a trustee.

Ms Smith called for volunteer to help protect the world for "future generations." 

Sarah said: “I could never have predicted that my small Facebook post would lead to a King’s Award.

 “We’re all over the moon.” 

Community - PACE wins the Charity Stand Cup from the Tendring Show 2024, (L to R) Bob Gooding, Denis Baldry, Caroline hall, John HallCommunity - PACE wins the Charity Stand Cup from the Tendring Show 2024, (L to R) Bob Gooding, Denis Baldry, Caroline hall, John Hall (Image: PACE Manningtree) Representatives of PACE Manningtree will receive the Award Crystal and Certificate from Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.

Two volunteers from PACE Manningtree will also attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace.

John Hall, PACE’s Chair of Trustees, said: “Receiving the award is fantastic recognition for the PACE trustees, for the hundreds of local volunteers who contribute to PACE’s work and for our community here on the Stour Estuary.” 

Halford Hewitt, a PACE Trustee who lives in Lawford, added:  “Ensuring local people are involved keeps us effective.

“The climate and environment crises can make people feel overwhelmed and powerless but, by keeping projects local and practical, we hope that people can see the difference they are making.”

Festival - The 2023 Manningtree Earth Festival Festival - The 2023 Manningtree Earth Festival attracted over 3,000 people (Image: PACE Manningtree) Bekki Bibko, PACE Trustee and mother to two young adults living in Lawford, said she joined PACE as it would spur her family to make even more green changes.

She added: “We are by no means perfect - but we don’t need a few people doing sustainability perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly!”

PACE, which won a BBC Make a Difference Award in September, also runs the hugely popular Manningtree Earth Festival, which last year attracted more than 3,000 people.

Volunteers also run regular field trips with schools to inform the children and support the teaching staff on environmental topics. 

To find out more about the other projects the charity runs visit www.pacemanningtree.org.uk