June 7, 2017

Do you know a voluntary group who deserves to be recognised with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service?
On Friday 2 June 2017 two outstanding groups in Cumbria, Barrow Foodbank and South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society were honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Barrow Foodbank was set up by Barrow Churches to respond to the growing need to help those that were struggling in their local community, giving practical help not just through food but also through extensive support and the provision of advice to residents in Barrow, Millom and Ulverston. In 2016, the Foodbank helped 2,843 families of which 4,333 were adults and 3,115 were children, making a total of 7,448 people.
South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society maintains heritage assets and runs a narrow gauge railway located in Alston, a small remote market town high in the Pennines with very limited public transport. Alston depends on tourism and the South Tynedale Railway is the town’s very significant visitor attraction and is crucial for local businesses. It is an important asset to their remote community offering opportunities for skills and development for their many volunteers, particularly their young people.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award made to recognise and reward the most exceptional and innovative groups who provide voluntary led activities carried out by groups in the community. It is a highly competitive and prestigious award where by only around 50% of the nominees go on to win.

Any group of 2 or more people doing outstanding volunteering work can be nominated for the award. The majority of the group must be volunteers, and more than half the volunteers must have the right to live in the UK. The groups should also have been running for 3 years or more to be eligible.

To be nominated for the 2018 award, the group should:

• provide a service and meet a need for people living in the local community
• is supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it
• is run locally

Winners receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

If you know of a group who you feel deserves to be recognised and meets the above criteria, then please act now by visiting the below website to nominate the group online. https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service/overview.
Nominations received by Friday 15 September 2017 will be considered for the 2018 award.

Together we can help groups to be recognised and rewarded.

Mrs. Claire Hensman
Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria