Voluntary groups get Queen’s Award
Four voluntary organisations in West Sussex have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The successful groups are Henfield Haven CIO, Sussex Army Cadet Force, Turning Tides and the Fernhurst Centre.
Representatives from the successful groups will attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2021 and later this year the groups will receive their awards from the LordLieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper, who makes the presentation on behalf of the Queen.
Mrs Pyper commented: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the four outstanding groups in the county that have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. During the assessments we were impressed by their commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of others in imaginative and creative ways.
“The Award is a tremendous accolade for their activities, and their success demonstrates just how important the work of volunteers is, particularly at this very challenging time, not just in West Sussex, but throughout the country.
“I sincerely hope that their achievements will encourage other volunteer groups to consider putting themselves forward for nomination for this prestigious award.”
Henfield Haven CIO is a charitable organisation led by and dependent upon volunteers that provides dementia care and a wide range of other well-being services to help relieve those in need, whether by reason of age, ill-health, disability or other disadvantage living in
Henfield and its surrounding communities.
Chairman of Henfield Haven CIO Digby Stephenson said: “The announcement of our QAVS reflects a fully deserved reward for the army of volunteers who have helped to achieve a truly amazing transformation.
“From a real threat of closure in 2014 the Haven has become a vital core of the Henfield community, providing a broad range of services to help local people live life to the full, particularly those living with dementia.”
“Currently closed to customers, The Henfield Haven answered a call to arms during the Covid-19 pandemic and is earning its spurs as the operations and distribution base for the Henfield Helpline, which has again brought out the best in the Henfield community spirit and willingness to help in adversity.
“I know that this ‘can do’ attitude and enthusiasm will be ready to resume and deliver the Haven’s vital work as soon as this becomes possible.”
Sussex Army Cadet Force is a first-class youth organisation providing unique opportunities for young people to develop themselves through challenging, wellorganised training and lifeskills activities. It is led by highly dedicated volunteers who deliver this for the wide demographic of the whole West and East Sussex communities.
Turning Tides is a charity that supports people who are homeless to regain independence. Working across Worthing, Littlehampton, Horsham and East Grinstead their services range from drop-in centres to rehabilitation and longer term accommodation projects.
From its beginning in 2003 as an internet café, the Fernhurst Centre in Haslemere has developed into a learning centre, coffee shop, book swap and meeting place open six days a week for the benefit of all ages in the community of Fernhurst. It now offers courses including computing and technology, languages, genealogy and -bay use.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was introduced in 2002 and aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups that benefit their local communities. 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups have received the Award this year.
The recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation