A PEEBLESSHIRE volunteer has been honoured at a royal event.

Jack King, from West Linton, joined other volunteers at the Royal Garden Party in Edinburgh earlier this week.

Mr King has volunteered with the Children's Hearings System for 14 years and was invited to the event at the Palace of Holyrood on Tuesday, July 2 in recognition of his services to infants, children and young people.

As part of his role with the organisation, Mr King has served as a panel member and lead panel representative for the south east region of Scotland.

Mr King was one of 38 serving and former volunteers with Children's Hearings System at the garden party.

Elliot Jackson, chief executive of Children’s Hearings Scotland, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our volunteers who are making important decisions in the best interests of infants, children and young people across Scotland.

“I’m delighted to see them celebrated and honoured in this way, recognising the positive outcomes their service brings for so many people.”

Children's hearings are legal meetings where concerns about an infant, child or young person's wellbeing is discussed.

Three panel members sit at the hearing where decisions are made in the best interests of the child.

More than 2,000 volunteer panel members sit on more than 20,000 children's hearings every year.

Children's Hearings Scotland recruits, trains and supports panel members.

As part of its annual recruitment campaign this September, Children's Hearings Scotland is inviting people interested in volunteering to get in touch and register their interest in becoming a panel member.

For more information, and to register interest, visit: www.chscotland.gov.uk/volunteering-with-us/panel-members/