Published Tuesday 16 August 2022 at 20:15
The Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO, has made a final call for Lancashire residents to nominate outstanding voluntary groups in their area for the 2023 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service before this year’s 15 September deadline.
This prestigious UK National Honour, which has the equivalent status to the MBE, recognises the exceptional contribution made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. In June this year, six outstanding Lancashire groups were announced as amongst the recipients of the 2022 Award from nominations made from across the UK. These groups were nominated by members of the public.
Although the window for 2023 nominations has been open since April, there is still time to submit a nomination before the closing date of 15 September. Nominations can be made by visiting https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/
Mr Terry Hephrun, Deputy Lieutenant and Chairman of the Lancashire Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Advisory Panel, said:
“I was delighted to see Lancashire have a good number of nominations and successes in the 2022 Awards; six organisations from across the County were successful. The Awards were presented by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant at a County Hall Ceremony in July. The Lancashire Panel has been working hard to sustain that momentum for next year.
“The Award recognises excellence in volunteering and the six chosen organisations are great examples of the strong voluntary sector we have in Lancashire. This year has again been a demanding one for all of us, but the voluntary sector has responded magnificently to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Voluntary Groups in Lancashire deserve to be recognised.
“In the nineteen years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, 83 groups from Lancashire have received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“Past winners report that receiving the Award has enhanced their reputation, encouraged pride in their volunteers, helped with recruitment and even made a difference to fundraising.”
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley, said:
“In our borough, we have so many volunteers and voluntary groups that go above and beyond every day to support their communities.
Each and every one of them deserves recognition for the vital services they provide. They give up their time and expertise to help their fellow residents.
I would strongly urge local residents to nominate voluntary groups in our area for the 2023 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service before this year’s 15th September deadline.
This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution that voluntary groups make to Blackburn with Darwen”.
This year’s winners from Lancashire are:
Friends of Rhyddings Park, Hyndburn
Played a key role in reviving a dilapidated park and transforming its cafe to provide a base for community activities such as gardening, walks, craft, well-being sessions.
Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland
Providing an impressive range of activities and events to maintain a much-loved green space and bring the community together in a deprived part of Blackpool.
Church & Oswaldtwistle Rotary
Improving life for the whole community through an impressive range of environmental, social and youth projects. Goes far beyond fundraising.
Healthier Fleetwood
Connecting residents and groups to help them create their own path to improve well-being through meetups, mentoring, sport and arts activities, and mental health support.
Cedar House Preston
Providing free counselling across a spectrum of issues (bereavement, domestic abuse, depression, miscarriage amongst others) for the people of Preston.
New Neighbours Together
A small specialist charity providing grassroot care and support to Asylum seekers and refugees in Burnley.