A voluntary group from Renton which works in the community to help support children and families affected by autism has been presented with with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The Vale of Leven Autism and Aspergers Forum is a local support group for parents and carers of children who have been diagnosed with autism. ?It provides weekly parental support meetings, weekly youth clubs and monthly sibling support, as well as providing third party training to parents and outings, both fully and partly funded, for the children.

The award was presented by Michael Gregory OBE, the lord lieutenant of West Dunbartonshire, at a ceremony in Clydebank Town Hall on Thursday.

Nina Chapman, the group's chairperson, said: “We are honoured and delighted to have nominated and received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

"We had an amazing time at the award presentation - the committee were joined by members, friends and family. It was an emotional night and finally seems real to us now.

"It is fantastic to know that we have been recognised for the work we do with the amazing families we support.

"We are moving from strength to strength at the moment, and the award has come at a fantastic time for us with the reopening of the West of Scotland Autism and Aspergers Centre after the renovation.

"Our committee and members could never have dreamed of how far we have come and the recognition we have received in the past five years.

"Our committee, past and present, works extremely hard to continue to provide the services we do and I am very proud of them.”

Members of the forum attended the Patrons' Lunch on the Mall in London on June 12, part of the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations, and will also attend Her Majesty's garden party next year, where they will meet the Queen and other winners of the award.

The forum is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis, who chairs the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Committee, said: “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.

"The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements.

"The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer. I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.”

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award.

To put forward a volunteering group you think deserves the award, go to https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/ - notes to help you can be found at https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/guidance-notes.