Shropshire groups awarded Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
Three Shropshire groups have today been honoured as recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2014.
Severn Hospice, Festival Drayton Centre and Wellington Cottage Care Trust will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal for their outstanding community contribution.
The winners will also have the opportunity to attend one of her Majesty’s garden parties, held at Buckingham Palace over the summer months.
The unique UK national honour was created over a decade ago by Her Majesty to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002; it has an equivalent status for voluntary groups as the MBE has for individuals.
David Sear, chair of trustees at Severn Hospice, said: “Everyone at the hospice is absolutely delighted to hear the news that our volunteers are to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“It is very fitting that our volunteers, who form a vital part of what we do at the hospice, receive such recognition during our silver anniversary year.
“Since we first opened our doors in 1989 so many people have given their time to enable us to provide our vital services within the local community. From supporting our medical teams to helping raise the money needed to fund our services, our volunteers are an essential part of our team. Without their unwavering support we simply would not be able to care for the thousands of patients who need our support.
“The generosity and commitment of our volunteers continues to astound me, they are truly remarkable people. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and everyone Severn Hospice I would like to say congratulations and thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for all they do to make the hospice such a special place.”
Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society said:
“Groups and organisations like those honoured today are the key to inspiring the country to get involved in volunteering and make a difference in their community. I would like to congratulate all 111 organisations that have received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and I encourage others to participate and support groups like these in their local area.”
Those receiving the award this year were selected from over 300 groups nominated by members of the public who have seen the difference the volunteers have made to the lives of others or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE added:
"With more than 15 million Britons now volunteering at least once a month, this year's winners of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service have faced some tough competition. By being honoured in this way they have become the latest champions of a great movement whose members play a crucial role in identifying and tackling a whole range of grass roots problems in communities across our country. They represent the very best of democracy in action."
