A South Cheshire group which was set up to help stroke survivors has been honoured with the King's Award for Voluntary Services - equivalent to an MBE.

The Stroke Survivors Speech and Language Support Group, with branches in Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Alsager, Crewe and Nantwich, has been recognised for its 'exceptional' and 'outstanding' work.

The award, now in its third year, has been granted to 231 groups nationwide in 2025 and the Stroke Survivors Speech and Language Support Group is one of the groups. 

Recipients are honoured for life, with the accolade considered the equivalent of an MBE for charitable organisations.

The King's Award fo Voluntary Service is equivalent to an MBE for voluntary organisations. (Image: King's Award for Voluntary Service)

Founded in May 2018 after chief executive officer Liz Bedson's father, affectionately known as 'Pops' suffered a stroke, the charity now operates five weekly support groups across Crewe, Alsager, Sandbach, Nantwich and Holmes Chapel, plus online sessions via Zoom.

Volunteers contribute 9,372 hours annually with the charity's longstanding volunteers collectively contributing 781 hours per month, 9,372 hours annually, providing person-centred rehabilitation to stroke survivors.

Liz's late father 'Pops', who suffered a stroke which led Liz to set up the group. (Photo: Liz Bedson)

Liz Bedson, CEO, said: "It's absolutely amazing that we've won the King's Award for Voluntary Services because it recognises a really important group of people in our charity - the volunteers.

"They are empowering our stroke survivors to thrive not just to survive. "Our volunteers provide person-centred rehabilitation that recognises the human cost of silence, isolation and lost potential. Imagine a world where stroke rehabilitation is not a postcode lottery, but a promise.

"Where Survivors in South Cheshire can access structured holistic support with no time limit. This is the world we are building.

"We feel hugely honoured and really excited as to where this award will take us and what the future holds for support for stroke survivors."