Nominations are sought for community group awards
Now is the time to nominate outstanding volunteer groups across Sussex for a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the MBE for local community organisations.
This is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.
Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the community can be nominated.
Each group is assessed on the benefits it brings to the community and its standing within that community.
Nominations for the 2023 awards can be submitted until September 15.
The standard expected is very high, however there is no such thing as a typical Queen’s Award winner.
Past awardees cover a wide, diverse range of activities, like theatre groups, food banks, dementia clubs and local radio stations.
The awards are published on June 2 each year, the anniversary of Her Majesty’s coronation, and are seen as a national benchmark for excellence in volunteering.
Last year, seven groups across Sussex received the award, Streetlight UK, 4Sight Vision Support based in Bognor Regis, Gurjar Hindu Union and Olive Tree Cancer Support in Crawley, Medi Tech Trust and Wayfinder Woman in Eastbourne and Sussex Pathways based in Lewes.
Streetlight UK works across Sussex to enable women caught up in prostitution to regain control of their lives.
Helena Croft, chief executive, said: “Winning the QAVS award has been an honour for us all at StreetlightUK.
“In what has been a tremendously challenging few years, it recognised the many hours of selfless service that our volunteers give.
“The award gave a huge boost of encouragement to our team, for which we are very grateful.”
Henfield Haven, a vibrant volunteer-run community centre, won a QAVS award in 2020.
Digby Stephenson, chairman, said: “The Haven being recognised with the QAVS in 2020 has made a huge difference to our operation in three ways.
“Our profile within the local community has significantly improved, which has led to increased use of our services.
“Donations and sponsorship have also been boosted by greater public awareness.
“Perhaps most significantly we have seen greater numbers of people offering to volunteer, in many different capacities, and without which we would struggle to survive.
“I would encourage any organisation that thinks it might deserve the award to give it a go – I’m very pleased that we did.”
Full details on how to nominate a group are available at qavs.culture.gov. uk