A group of volunteers has received the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Sailability at Exe Sailing Club, based in Exmouth, Devon, has been honoured with The King's Award for Voluntary Service for 2024.

The award is equivalent to an MBE.

The Exe Sailability Project, which started in 2007, is now a key part of the club's activities.

The project aims to make sailing accessible to people with various disadvantages.

Over the years, the project has been able to acquire two 20-foot sailing boats, a 30-foot motor launch, and a fleet of training dinghies, thanks to generous grants, sponsorships, and help from Exe Sailing Club.

The ever-growing volunteer base has enabled the project to conduct 220 sailing sessions in Exmouth last season.

Sailability at Exe Sailing Club is one of 281 charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The King's Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen's Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King.

It aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.

Representatives of Sailability at Exe Sailing Club will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lord-Lieutenant David Fursdon in spring 2025.

In addition, two volunteers from the group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year's award.

Nick Smith said: "I am delighted that our volunteer members, from Exe Sailing Club, have been recognised in our quest to give access to the water to disadvantaged sailors.

"Several sailors have obtained recognised sailing qualifications, membership of the club with one sailor joining Team GB national deaf sailing."

The King's Birthday Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a mental health and well-being support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire, a group preserving a historic 12th-century castle in south Wales, six volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling, and an organisation providing opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.