The Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston, is delighted to congratulate the five Suffolk organisations announced today as winners of the The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2021.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK, the equivalent of an MBE. The Suffolk organisations celebrating this prestigious award today are as follows:
Butley Ferry, a group of 25 volunteers based in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, operating what is believed to be the smallest licenced ferry in Europe and carrying walkers and cyclists across the Butley River in a boat propelled solely by oars.
Home-Start in Suffolk* provides crucial support to vulnerable families across Suffolk, through 1-1 volunteer home visits. Supporting 570 families a year to integrate with their community, improve their self-esteem, help to develop routines, often pre-empting intervention, this would not be possible without the combined efforts of their 250 community volunteers.
Hour Community, Framlingham* whose 50 volunteers pride themselves on responding to community challenges with hands-on, needs-led community solutions. An extraordinary range of good neighbour initiatives led to their volunteer numbers swelling to 150 during lockdown.
Inside Out Community Arts*, provide mental health and wellbeing support in Ipswich and East Suffolk through arts participation. Their ten volunteers enable the charity to offer an extremely successful, professionally run and accessible programme, allowing people to explore their creativity within a warmly accepting community. The belief and experience of the organisation is that participation in the arts promotes emotional equilibrium and strengthens the spirit. Their excellence is reflected in positive outcomes.
Success After Stroke, based in Sudbury, exists to help stroke survivors regain their confidence and rebuild their lives, by offering a range of therapies – physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and mental well-being; activities, for example art and pottery, computers, and outings providing for limited mobility; and guest speakers. This group has been running for 20 years and relies upon its 60 volunteers to be able to deliver its life changing therapies.
Groups marked with * will also receive the special designation recognising impactful support provided during the pandemic.
The Lord-Lieutenant commented “These five marvellous and varied groups reflect the depth and breadth of volunteering right across the county. This is a memorable day with five winners – an all-time record for us – but we know there are so many more deserving groups out there so please consider nominating others for 2022, my office is happy to advise. I am greatly looking forward to meeting these groups when we arrange their presentations later in the year.”
Suffolk’s five winners are among 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the UK to receive the prestigious award this year. 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.
The groups will each receive the award crystal and certificate signed by HM The Queen from the Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk later this summer. Two volunteers from each organisation will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time).Winners are entitled to use the prestigious QAVS logo on their stationery and print material.
Anyone can nominate a volunteer group and you need two supporting letters. The 2022 round is now open and full details of the criteria and how to nominate can be found at https://qavs.culture.gov.uk/. The Suffolk Lieutenancy office are pleased to offer advice and support: details here https://suffolk-lieutenancy.org.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service Nominations for the 2022 awards close on 15 September 2021.