Three voluntary groups from across the county who work in the community have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services (QAVS) aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
Representatives of the groups receive the QAVS Award Crystal and a QAVS Certificate signed by Her Majesty the Queen from Her Majesty’s representative in the County, the Lord Lieutenant at a local ceremony. Two volunteers from the winning groups are invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer of this year, along with other recipients of this award.
The three winning groups from Essex are:
- Brighter Opportunities for Special People (BOSP), Pitsea, Basildon – Has been in existence for over 30 years. Its volunteers support families and young people who have disabilities or life limiting conditions. The group provide a wide range of activities and respite for 110 young people who have complex or rare conditions, and in total support around 350 people including parents, siblings, and carers who receive respite for a few hours.
www.bosp.co.uk - Brentwood Imperial Youth Band – Was formed over 30 years ago and is run entirely by volunteers who give over 11,000 hours a year to support over 100 young musicians, who put on professional performances in the UK and overseas. The quality of the marching and musical performance is truly remarkable, and rates alongside any professional adult band.
www.brentwoodyouthband.org.uk - The Listening Post CIC, Basildon – Opened in 2016 to help meet a growing demand for mental health support. It provides one to one counselling services and unlike other counselling services, there is no waiting list, no limit to the number of sessions a client can have, and no issue that cannot be covered. Reduced rate sessions are offered based on disposable income, many are given free of charge, and nobody is turned away.
www.listening-post.co.uk
The three groups from Essex are amongst 244 charities, social enterprises, and volunteer-led groups to receive the prestigious award this year across the UK. The number of nominations remains high year on year showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
This award is given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise exceptional service within their communities. The recipients of the award are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. The QAVS is considered as the MBE for voluntary groups.
The three Essex winners will receive the prestigious Award from Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, later this year at presentation events organised to bring together the volunteers, those who receive the service, and other connected to the winning group.
Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex said:
“The announcement of three winners of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest national award for voluntary groups, across Essex is a wonderful tribute to the outstanding work of the voluntary sector. The number of awards won across Essex speaks volumes for the excellence of volunteering in our county and the increasing importance of the work of volunteers for community wellbeing. I am delighted that three extremely deserving groups, who are providing a wide range of services to our communities have been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen. I look forward to presenting the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services to each of the groups over the coming months, and to celebrate their success with their volunteers and many who receive their excellent service.
I would also like to encourage all who know of outstanding voluntary groups doing outstanding work in their communities to go on to the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services website and nominate those groups for this wonderful award”.
Last year there were 241 winners across the UK of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This year there were 244. More information on the winners can be found at the London Gazette https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
Nominations for the 2022 QAVS awards close at midnight on 15th September 2022 and should be made online via https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/
Any group of two or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/
