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Press Release: 11 October 2008
Last call for nominations for Queen’s prestigious volunteering group award
The Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office today called for new nominations for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the National Honour equivalent to an MBE, ahead of the 10th October deadline.
The Award recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others, with more than 600 groups already being recognised since the Award was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The Office of the Third Sector is seeking to build on this and is encouraging new nominations for voluntary groups, including those involved with youth, minority and rural communities. Nominations can be made at any time during the year, but for nominators wishing to be considered for the 2009 Award, forms must be received by 10th October.
Nominees should visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk for further information about the Award and to download nomination forms in pdf or word format.
Reflecting on what winning can mean to groups, Sanja Kane, Manager of Learn English at Home (LEAH), recipient of this year’s Award for its delivery of one-to-one home tutoring in English and befriending of non-English speaking residents, said:
"We were so honoured to receive this prestigious Award – all the more precious to us because we know that there are so many worthy voluntary organisations in the UK.
“Last year was a difficult one for us and the Award couldn’t have come at a better time, recognising as it does the commitment of all those who have volunteered for us over many years, and without whom we would not be where we are today."
Seventy-nine volunteering groups from across the UK were selected for the 2008 Award in June from over 379 groups nominated by members of the public, ranging from a community club in Preston working to divert local children away from crime, to a voluntary organisation providing holidays for people with special needs in Exeter and a County Down mountain rescue team aiding lost or injured climbers*.
For details of all winners of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk.
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For further information
Mark Atkins, Consolidated 020 7781 2391 or marka@consol.co.uk
Helen Little, Consolidated 020 7781 2331 or helenl@consol.co.uk
Notes to editors
- * Callon Kid’s Community Club develops a range of activities aiming to give children from the Callon estate in Preston aspiration through social inclusion, to steer them away from getting involved in criminal activity.
- Dream-A-Way is a group based in Exeter sending local people of all ages from around the south west with physical and learning difficulties on holidays and day trips, allowing them to fulfil a lifetime dream or just take time out from their daily routine.
- The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, based in the Northern Ireland coastal town of Newcastle, is made up of a group of experienced mountaineers working voluntarily at all times and in all weathers to help anyone in trouble on the local hill range.
- A full list of Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2008 winners is listed at www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk
About the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen’s Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
Groups must be nominated for the Award – self nomination is not permitted. You can nominate a group (two or more people) if it is based in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The group has to have been volunteering for the benefit of people in the UK or overseas for at least three years and more than half its members must be volunteers who have the right of residence in the UK. Groups solely concerned with fundraising for charitable purposes are not eligible. Further details on entrance criteria and the nomination process are available from www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk.
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