Nominations Sought for Queens Award for Voluntary Service in Sussex

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen’s coronation.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award. Each group is assessed on the benefit it brings to the local community and its standing within that community.

Nominations are accepted this year until midnight on 25th September. 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.

Groups can be nominated at any time in a simple on line application process - but the assessment is thorough and rigorous.

Six local organisations won the award this year: - Bramber Bakehouse in Eastbourne and Kempton House Day Centre, Peacehaven for East Sussex and The Fernhurst Centre, Henfield Haven, and Turning Tides, based in Worthing for West Sussex, plus the Sussex Army Cadet Force.

Awards will be presented later in the year on behalf of Her Majesty by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field and the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex Susan Pyper.

Applying for the award is a good test of whether the organisation is truly fulfilling its potential - and those who win gain much in terms of pride and reputation as well as helping them with their membership and fundraising.

Any group of two or more people that has undertaken voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the Award. Full details on how to nominate a group are available a twww.//qavs.culture.gov.uk/

Pictured are the Lord Lieutenants of East and West Sussex, who will present the awards.

See also: Take part in Sussex Wildlife photo competition