Northumberland County Blind Association receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Northumberland County Blind Associations volunteers based across Northumberland, have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The Association works with 181 volunteers to deliver services to blind and visually impaired people is one of 241 charities, social enterprises, and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.
Northumberland County Blind Association will receive the award crystal and certificate from Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland. , Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland later this summer.
Left to right: Andrea Poulter Trustee and Volunteer Befriender and Julie Boyack Chief Officer of Northumberland County Blind Association holding certificates for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Julie Boyack Chief Officer says: “we are so proud and delighted that our organisations work has been recognised, it’s a tribute to hard work and commitment of our volunteers.” In addition to the award we will receive a special designation- a slightly modified crystal with the words ‘with special recognition – Covid 19’.
The award recognises that we have provided impactful support to the community in response to the pandemic – by managing a significant increase in our usual work , Which we did by setting up a telephone Befriending service during the pandemic with 91 volunteers making telephone calls, at the height of the epidemic we contacted over 600 visually impaired people, to reduce isolation, loneliness and providing a lifeline to clients during unprecedented times.
For further Information please contact Julie Boyack 01670514316.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
- This year there were 241 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.
- More information on the recipients and the Award can be found on the Government website at https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service
- Full details on how to nominate are available on the Government website at https://qavs.culture.gov.uk/
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