FIVEMILETOWN Royal British Legion has received the King's Award for Voluntary Service. 

The organisation received the award on Saturday, April 20. 

UPP MLA, Tom Elliot, extended his congratulations. 

"Fivemiletown Royal British Legion is probably different from many British Legions," Mr. Elliot said. "When we hear of a British Legion branch, we think of people who sell poppies, raise funds for veterans and make preparations for Remembrance Day, but Fivemiletown is different.

"Fivemiletown British Legion does a lot of community activity, and its members are representative of the entire community.

"During the COVID pandemic in particular, they fundraised, looked after the vulnerable people in their community and ensured that people who might have been vulnerable to social isolation had visits and were given goods and products that, basically, kept many of them alive during that time.

"They continue to do that. Since getting into that trend, they have continued to look after vulnerable people in their community. They get huge help, but, if it were not for the volunteers, they could not operate. There is a massive ring of volunteers for many areas and subjects, and they do that work exceptionally well."