Exceptional Staffs Volunteers Honoured

Staffs Search and Rescue were honoured in the awards

By Ben Aulakh

Six exceptional community groups from across Staffordshire are celebrating after scooping the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service; the MBE for groups.

They are among 130 organisations nationally to be awarded the honour which recognises groups who set the benchmark for excellence in volunteering.

They include Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team, Chadsmoor Tapestry Group, Chesterton Community Forum, Rudyard Sailability, Ashley and Loggerheads Community First Responders and Newcastle St John Ambulance.

The six voluntary services competed against 413 groups who were nominated by members of the public; people who had personally benefitted from the teams' work, or witnessed their good deeds in the community.

The six Staffordshire organisations will also attend a glamorous Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, where they will be presented with a certificate by the Queen.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire Sir James Hawley said: "I am delighted that six Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service have been awarded to groups in Staffordshire this year.

“I congratulate the winners as they reflect the wonderful voluntary work done by so many in all parts of the county.”

A total of 19 groups from Staffordshire have now won the annual award since it was created by Her Majesty to mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

For details of all this year’s award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/qavs, where a nomination form can be downloaded.

Photograph from www.staffssearchandrescue.org.