Halton volunteers recognised by The Queen with prestigious Award

     
Windmill Hill Community Forum Ltd from Runcorn has been announced as one of 103 UK volunteering groups to win this year’s The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.

Winners of this year’s Award were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

Windmill Hill Community Forum Ltd will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Cheshire, Mr Thomas David Briggs MBE the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire at a special ceremony. The Forum has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in July.

Windmill Hill Community Forum Ltd has received the Award for the sterling work carried out by our volunteers, who help to provide free computer classes, office services, a Wednesday drop in session, and a community mini-bus service, for the residents and community groups, living or operating on Windmill Hill and the surrounding areas. The Award also recognises the time and effort given, since the opening of the “Telematics Centre” in 2001, until the present time. It also recognises the difficulties met in overcoming the continual problems associated with funding, and the fact that the Forum set up its own trading accompany called Windmill Hill Telematics CIC, a Community Interest Company whose profits go directly to support the Forum.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,

“Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together. It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of The Windmill Hill Community Forum Ltd with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others.”

More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Speaking of their success, Mike Burrows the Chairman of Windmill Hill Community Forum Ltd said:

“The Forum are thrilled to have received this prestigious honour in recognition of the work we do providing free computer courses, office services, a drop in session, and mini-bus service for residents and community groups living or operating, in Windmill Hill and the surrounding communities”.

For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice, where a nomination form can be downloaded.

For further information

Contact Mike Burrows on (01928) 790228 or email mikeburrows@whcf.org.uk.