Express & Star

Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service: Midlands delight over top royal honour

Volunteers across the Black Country and Staffordshire have been honoured with one of the highest awards in the country.

Published
Mary Stevens Hospice volunteers Jean Wesson and Julie Turvey attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Stourbridge-based charity

Canal workers, hospice carers, and volunteers at a Yemeni Community Association were all among those to be honoured in this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Mary Stevens Hospice, based in Stourbridge, West Bromwich’s Yemeni Community Association, and Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust all received the accolade.

Representatives from the organisations attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace last month, along with other recipients of the award. They will receive The Queen’s Award at a special ceremony at Birmingham Hippodrome in October.

Mary Stevens Hospice is a charity offering specialist palliative and end-of-life care for adults living with terminal illnesses and dedicated support for their families and carers.

Dedicated

The hospice serves people in the Black Country, Dudley borough and surrounding areas – and relies on the support of more than 500 volunteers both at the Hagley Road-based care site and out in the community through the hospice’s events and high street shops.

Stevan Jackson, group chief executive officer at Mary Stevens, said: “All at the hospice are absolutely delighted that the impressive abilities and tremendous work of our band of marvellously dedicated volunteers has been recognised with this, the most prestigious of awards.

“It is a fantastic tribute to their hard work and commitment, without which we would struggle to deliver services.”

Yemeni Community Association chief executive officer Ragih Muflihi with Sandwell Council deputy leader Councillor Syeda Khatun

The Yemeni Community Association, based at the Greets Green Access Centre, help new migrants and refugees settle into local communities by providing educational, recreational, cultural, spiritual and emotional wellbeing activities for people of all ages. Over the last year, approximately 920 individuals have been helped by the organisation.

The organisation also runs mosque tours for local schools to help with the religious education curriculum and give live examples of how Muslims worship.

Chief executive Ragih Muflihi said: “It is a great honour that the Yemeni Community Association in Sandwell has been recognised for the high standard of services it provides in meeting the needs of the local people. We work with a group of about 40 volunteers who range from 15 years old to 70-plus from a variety of ethnic backgrounds who act as peer mentors to support people with a variety of issues.

“They include emotional wellbeing support and helping to develop the English language skills of new migrants to enable them to access the wider community. Our work has helped to reduce community tensions and helped to ease the transition and settlement of new migrant families into the Sandwell community.”

Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s Christine Bull

Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust was praised for restoring a derelict canal to improve the environment and for the benefit of the local community, wildlife and tourism.

Trust chairman Christine Bull said: “Of course, we are ecstatic about receiving the award. As a wholly volunteer operated charity undertaking an ambitious project, it is testament to the dedication and commitment of our 200 plus volunteers who turn out in all weathers, face all sorts of challenges, keep smiling and make LHCRT such an amazing family.”

The groups are among 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year – which aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Volunteers at adventure centre fit for the Queen win award for hard work

Volunteers, aged from 15 to 80, completed more than 6,100 hours of work

An adventure learning centre has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Kingswood Trust, based near Wolverhampton, has been given the highest award for a voluntary group.

The trust delivers outdoor environmental opportunities for children, families, schools and offers residential stays, day visits and programmes to boost learning.

Volunteers, aged from 15 to 80, completed more than 6,100 hours of work at the centre off Holyhead Road, near Albrighton.

They helped organise events and activities, bake cakes, maintain the grounds and support with fundraising.

Rachel Wells, charity manager and David Harris, chairman of the trust board, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 29.

Ms Wells said: “This is a huge honour and I am delighted that our group’s work to support The Kingswood Trust has been recognised.

Increased

“We are so grateful for the tremendous work from our volunteers, partners and supporters who regularly commit to giving time and resources to our nine-acre community facility.” Kingswood Trust is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

Representatives of The Friends of Kingswood Trust will receive the award from Ian Dudson, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire later this summer at a special celebration event.

Mr Harris said: “I hope this award and the publicity it brings will also add more strength to our fundraising success as it demonstrates another Quality Mark alongside our Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

“We very much look forward to developing further our links in Staffordshire, Wolverhampton and the wider area, enabling our services to support more people."