Royal nod for Armed Forces team
Armed forces organisation SSAFA Lanarkshire has been honoured for its work with the prestigious Queen’s award for voluntary service (QAVS) – described as the“MBE for community groups”.
The local branch of the charity, which supports serving and former members of the forces and their families, was among 21 Scottish groups to be recognised this year with the royal accolade which is the highest honour available to volunteer organisations in the UK.
Its volunteers across the county have secured more than £2.2 million in grants from service funds and charities during the past decade to help veterans and service personnel, assisting more than 1700 individuals and their families in that time.
Representatives of SSAFA Lanarkshire are due receive the award from Lord Lieutenant Lady Susan Haughey later this year, while and two of its volunteers will be invited to attend a royal garden party at Holyrood next summer.
They are also featuring on a podcast run by Volunteer Scotland, along with the other recipient organisations, to acknowledge their achievement and speak about their work.
David McAllister has been the chairman of SSAFA Lanarkshire for 18 years, and was appointed MBE for his volunteer work with the organisation in the Queen’s birthday honours three years ago.
He said of the group’s QAVS honour:“I’m really thrilled at this great achievement, recognising the amazing work done by my team of true volunteers; it’s also a wonderful honour for Lanarkshire to be regarded in such a manner.”
SSAFA supports those who are serving or have served in the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force, as well as their families; and volunteers with the Lanarkshire branch give their time to help as caseworkers, mentors and fundraisers.
Lanarkshire Lord Lieutenant Lady Haughey said of their honour:“I am absolutely delighted that the group’s work has been recognised in this way.
“With no paid staff, this small group of committed and well-trained volunteers work with exceptional energy, enthusiasm, compassion and professionalism – and in so doing, make a real, positive difference to the quality of life of individuals and families who contact them for assistance.”
She added:“I very much hope that we will see excellent groups from Lanarkshire nominated for the award in the future.”
Recognising outstanding volunteer work in communities, the prestigious Queen’s Award is presented to groups doing work assessed by a national panel as being“exceptional”and who have“proven their value to their community, including their high local standing”.
It was created in 2002 in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, with recipients being announced each year on the June 2 anniversary of her coronation.
QAVS independent committee chair Sir Martyn Lewis said:“This year’s Queen’s Awards highlight the considerable achievements of groups of volunteers.
“Inspired by all that is best in the human spirit, they are made up of local people who have come together to address issues facing their communities; all have demonstrated a long-term commitment to volunteering that gives real meaning to society, and which shows Britain at its best.”
Volunteer Scotland chief executive George Thomson added of the award recipients:“They are a standout amongst so many other community actions in the UK; very well done to them all.”