THEY help some of the most vulnerable groups in Oxfordshire – and rely on people giving up their time for free to do so.

And now volunteers at four county groups have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of the MBE for people working in their local community to help others.

Helen and Douglas House hospice, The Prison Phoenix Trust, BYHP (Supporting Young People in Housing Need), and Windrush Valley Amateur Boxing Club were honoured.

East Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House, the world’s first children’s hospice, was recognised for providing respite and end of life care to children, young adults and their families.

Its volunteers do everything from fundraising to manning the charity’s 32 shops and helping in the garden.

Chief executive Tom Hill said: “We are very proud of this recognition and enormously proud of our volunteers.

“Without them we would not be able to provide the range of support and services to the families that need us.”

The Phoenix Prison Trust, based in Summertown, was recognised for its work with prisoners and prison staff through teaching, workshops, correspondence and books.

Volunteers’ roles include answering letters and teaching yoga and meditation.

Director Sam Settle said: “It is impossible to place a value on what our volunteers give, but there’s no way we could reach over 10,500 prisoners as we do now with just our small team of eight part-time staff.”

Windrush Valley Amateur Boxing Club, based in Carterton, received the award for providing access to boxing to people of all ages and abilities.

Club secretary Ann Setch said: “We are thrilled.

“The volunteers give so much of their time and work with such passion, and while nobody expects any recognition this is as good as it gets.”

The club, which has about 90 members and six permanent coaches, is run entirely by volunteers. The coaches pay for their own qualifications and courses.

Banbury-based BYHP supports vulnerable 16- to 25-year-olds who are either homeless or at risk of losing their homes.

Volunteers help run drop-ins and provide ‘night stops’ – giving homeless young people somewhere to stay for the night in an emergency.

Pam Linzey-Jones, from the charity, said of the award: “We are overwhelmed. Without our volunteers we would not survive.”

Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson said: “The winners are extraordinarily varied in what they do. All are the same in their consistent dedication to what they do and the effectiveness with which they do it.”

Since the awards started in 2002, 19 county groups have won one.