This week the focus in this country is very much on the Platinum Jubilee, marking the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne.

It is right and proper that the country celebrates the remarkable duty and service performed by the Queen during her long reign.

In Kendal celebrations will include a beacon being lit at the castle at 9.45pm tonight (June 2), the same time as other beacons are lit across the UK and Crown Dependencies.

As the nation says thank you to the Queen for her service, it feels an appropriate time to highlight local people who serve this area in positive ways.

This week (June 1-7) is Volunteers Week, an opportunity to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and to say thank you.

As part of the week, Bay Health and Care Partners (BHCP) are celebrating the stories of local people who volunteer to support communities and local services across Morecambe Bay.

They include Kendal Lunch Bunch, which aims to combat loneliness and offers elderly people from the community the opportunity to have a hot, nutritious, homecooked meal. The lunch bunch has been running since September 2019 and uses donated food from local businesses to reduce wastage.

Meanwhile, Bay Trust Radio, a registered charity run entirely by a group of dedicated volunteers, aptly reminded people on its website this week that in 2019 it was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Its aims include promoting what’s great about our area as well as promoting good health and wellbeing across Lancashire and Cumbria, through its broadcasts, social media platforms and website.

It was also good to hear this week that good causes will benefit after grants were awarded to more than 40 community organisations in Cumbria and the Borders at Cumbria Community Foundation’s recent grants committee from funds set up by local people and businesses.

Well done to all local individuals and organisations which go out of their way to help others.