London taxi organisation for war disabled crowned UK’s best charity

The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled charity has been crowned the UK’s best voluntary organisation, following a public vote.

The charity is made up of volunteer taxi drivers and has been running trips for veterans since 1948, including an annual seaside visit to Worthing.

Last year, the charity used National Lottery to fund  a five-day trip to the Netherlands.

More than 90 London taxi drivers and volunteers took 120 Second World War veterans and their carers to Arnhem, where they received heroes’ welcomes on the 70th anniversary of the Liberation.

The charity received took the title in this year’s National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

The project has been awarded a £3,000 cash prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy, and representatives will attend a star-studded Awards ceremony, broadcast on BBC One in September.

Fred Glover, a 90-year-old Second World War veteran who recently undertook two parachute jumps to raise money for the Taxi Charity, said: “I’m over the moon that this magnificent charity has won a National Lottery award.

“The cab drivers and committee members are all volunteers. They look after us so well on our trips and outings. I’m proud to be associated with them.”

Strictly Star and broadcaster Katie Derham presented the veterans and taxi drivers with their National Lottery Award at a tea dance at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

She said: “I have been bowled over by the special bond between the London taxi drivers and the veterans.

“It is great that projects like this receive funding, thanks to National Lottery players who raise £36 million every week for good causes across the UK.”

Dick Goodwin, event organiser for the Taxi Charity, added: “We are absolutely delighted to have won a National Lottery Award.

“We’d like to say a sincere thank you to everyone that got behind us – veterans, cab drivers, family, friends and the British public – this award sends a great message to our veterans that people genuinely care about them and what they went through.”

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