Charities’ work is given the royal seal of approval
THREE charities have received the royal seal of approval at the Queens Awards for Voluntary Service.
The award is known as the equivalent of an MBE for the voluntary sector, and recognises charities, social enterprises and groups that demonstrate best practice in volunteering work.
Representatives from the Rochdale Parachute Regi- mental Association, Roch- dale & Bury Bridleways Association, and Recovery Republic attended a special ceremony at Gorton Monastery to collect their awards from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith.
The regimental association supports veterans and their families by organising events and running weekly drop-in sessions at Roch- ●●Receiving their Queen’s awards from Warren Smith, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Paul Griffiths, Vice Lord Lieutenant, are (from the left) Barbara Brown and Lesley Tierney from Rochdale and Bury Bridleway Association, chairman of the Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association with Wayne Rostron and his wife Joyce and Kuiama Thompson and Lisa Harding from Recovery Republic dale Town Hall. It offers a range of help including benefits, holidays, housing, teaching basic DIY and doing odd jobs for members.
It also helps families research veterans and replace lost or stolen medals, as well as attending funerals to give a military style send-off.
Chairman Wayne Rostron said: “Our organisation was set up to bring together ex-members and serving members of airborne forces from across the ages, back to the Second World War, to help and support each other and also to carry out charitable work in our community and beyond.
“It’s really tremendous to receive this award and be recognised in this way.”
The bridleways association works to improve offroad riding facilities in the area in an attempt to reduce road accidents involving horses, and the work also benefits cyclists and walkers. Chairman Irene Pope said: “We have many longserving volunteers who are willing to help anyone wishing to improve off-road riding in the area. It is really lovely to receive this award on behalf of all those special people.”
Recovery Republic, established in 2012, offers activities for people suffer- environment which ing from mental illness and empowers the most vulnerable substance abuse from its members of the community purpose-built centre in to undertake their Heywood. individual path to recovery.”
Centre manager Carl Cruise said: “We give individuals For more information or a hand-up rather to nominate a group for than a hand-out. We offer a next year’s awards visit gov. safe, supportive and deliberately uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service. non-judgemental