Burnley based groups, Belvedere & Calder Vale Sports Club and Fulledge Colts Youth FC have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Both groups are included in the list of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities and was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each year on the 2nd of June to coincide with the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation and include groups from across the UK involved in sport, the arts, heritage, community facilities and health & social care.
Representatives of each Group will receive the award from Lord Shuttleworth, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire later this summer – subject to Covid 19 restrictions. In addition, two volunteers from each group will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Commenting on the news Antony Higginbotham MP said,
"It's a fantastic achievement for us to have two local groups recognised for the work done by their volunteers, with the highest possible honour. Both Belvadere & Calder Vale Sports Club and Fulledge Colts Youth FC should be incredibly proud of this achievement".
- Belvedere & Calder Vale Sports Club offers three sports (football, cricket and rugby union) at its sports ground in north Burnley supporting over 400 members, both male and female from all sections of the community.
- Fulledge Colts Youth Football Club provides a football team for boys of the local Brunshaw area, ranging from teams from the ages of Under 7's through to Under 16's.
Nominations for the 2021 awards can be now be made with the closing date of 25 September 2020. Speaking about the application process Antony said, "with so many local organisations going above and beyond to support people during this difficult period I would encourage everyone to get involved and put forward nominations for those groups making such a difference here".
Groups need to be nominated by somebody else and will be considered if they are based in the UK, have been volunteering for the benefit of people in the UK or overseas for at least three years and more than half its members are volunteers who have the right of residence in the UK.
If you know of a worthy group then further details on entrance criteria and the nomination process are available at: https://qavs.culture.gov.uk/