An amazing volunteer from New Cumnock has been nominated for the prestigious Coronation Champions Awards.

Mhari Lindsay, 39, who runs Cumnock Juniors Girls Football Club, has been nominated for the award being held to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. 

With the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, a passionate advocate of volunteering and President of Royal Voluntary Service, the Coronation Champions awards are set to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history.  

Mhari who has been volunteering for 10 years, is now in the running to become one of a total of 500 volunteers, who will be selected as the nation’s Coronation Champions and invited to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations.  

READ MORE: Ton up for Cumnock Junior Girls as club welcomes 100th player

Mhari’s volunteer role at Cumnock Juniors Girls Football Club sees her take on the positions of club director, secretary, coach and player and it is an everyday commitment.

And a commitment she juggles with a full time job.

The club is open for girls from age five up to 70 in Cumnock, providing coaching and support. Mhari and her team of volunteers, some of who are former players, has established several teams who play in the locality, including a walking football team. 

Mhari set up the club to enable women and girls to have an equal opportunity to thrive and develop in the sport. As a result, girls who wouldn’t have had access to the sport have grown, developed and made their way onto professional women’s teams.   

As well as receiving an invite to one of the official events, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party, all 500 Champions will also receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin and a certificate signed by His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. 

Speaking about her nomination Mhari said: “Becoming a Coronation Champion would be a privilege to showcase our little club as a true community asset. I want the young girls to be offered a better opportunity to play football, one that was not there when I was little.

"Playing also helps encourage more social interaction, enhance health and wellbeing and gives the girls a chance to escape their day to day lives for a few hours a week and have more peers to talk to and rely on.” 

“Volunteering is the single most valuable thing I have ever done in my life. The sheer joy to see a young person do something you have taught them is overwhelming.

"It also gives me a sense of pride. Watching our young and older players grow is something I can say I love.

"Giving back to the community that gave to me when I was younger is really the best feeling in the world.” 

Nominations will be reviewed by an expert judging panel made up of volunteering specialists, charity leaders and academics.

Nominations for the Coronation Champions Awards will close at 23.59 on Sunday, April 2.

To nominate a volunteer for the Coronation Champions Awards, visit: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/coronation-champions-awards