2008 Award Winners

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Greenock ABC

Greenock Amateur Boxing Club

The Greenock ABC was founded in 2000 with the aim of not only keeping kids off the streets, or providing a place for them to go..but also trying to give the kids education for life.education in eating (nutrition), behaviour (how to conduct themselves) and physical and mental training / discipline.

All kids are welcome from the age of 10 through to young adulthood. The club helps kids in the preparation of making the giant steps from primary schools to secondary school knowing that with two years of education for life they stand a better chance of eating properly, behaving properly and may have the physical and mental strength to finish secondary school and go on to be responsible adults.

Their boxers have competed all over Britain, winning district and national titles; they have boxed for the national team and have been included in the GB squad. The club has had boxing teams from all over the UK, Ireland and Canada come to box in Greenock.

They recently had an invite from a team in Canada to box there in July 2009. Danny Lee, the Club's coach commented on this invitation saying "This will be the trip of a life time for the kids from Inverclyde."

Contact: Danny Lee
Tel: 014785 718298 / 07966 653550

Greystones Community Action Group

The Greystones Community Action Group was originally set up to improve the local environment and tackle the issue of lack of play equipment for children and young people. Initially the group only worked for the Greystones estate then in 2003 they extended their support boundary to cover the whole of Whiston.

Over the years the Greystones Action Group has grown in strength and with our local knowledge and working alongside partner agencies they have achieved many successful projects allowing them to offer a wider range of services and support to their community.

They provide social events for the young and elderly and in partnership with the Whiston Community Partnership they run a very successful weekly cinema club where young people aged between 7 and 19 enjoy a social activity and life together. In the last eight years they have successfully applied for and received funding for various projects which has benefited many people and improved the quality of life, health and social well being for local residents.

Contact: Donald Straw, Chairman
Tel: 01709 541382

Guernsey Jumbulance Holidays

Guernsey Jumbulance Holidays

The group consists of 24 people, 10 disabled people, 10 helpers, 2 or 3 Nurses, a doctor and a Priest on the Lourdes trips. Anyone can nominate a person to come on the trips, they usually come through nomination by local doctors and nurses. The helpers and medical team are all volunteers, who also help raise funds all year to achieve the group's targets.

Since 1985, they have taken groups to Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, South Tyrol, Paris, Ireland, Loire Valley, Cornwall, London and there have been 11 trips to Lourdes. Travelling with a group of the disabled can be challenging, they travel by ferry to England or St Malo and meet the Jumbulance at the relevant port.

The group hire the Jumbulance from ScottishAcross for the trip to Lourdes; because of their network of support in Lourdes, they have a contract with a hotel which caters for the disabled, a mini bus and a driver for their use while they are there, and for holidays they hire a Jumbulance from Jumbulance Travel Trust.

"Providing these trips, gives the carers at home a break, and gives the people who cannot travel alone a holiday. We are thrilled to have won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service." - Pamela Bartlett

Contact: Pamela Bartlett
Tel: 01481 247357

Hemsworth and District Community Initiatives Ltd

Hemsworth and District Community Initiatives is a community centre run by a committee of local people to promote action for the benefit of the residents of Hemsworth District. It provides weekly welfare and consumer rights advice sessions, computer, English, maths and craft courses, exercise for the over 50s, luncheon clubs for the elderly, after school clubs for 7-12s, an archive history group and councillors' surgeries.

The centre's motto is "Here to Help You to Help Yourself" and this is the philosophy on which it was founded. A warm and friendly welcome is extended to all visitors and regular centre users. Individuals who would normally shy away from enrolling on a college course because of a lack of confidence will come to the centre because of its reputation for customer service. People who have suffered from social isolation quickly become involved in other activities taking place in the centre, make friends and find a new motivation in life.

HDCI began in 1994, with a group of volunteers putting their ideas together and becoming a registered charity. The group leased one unit in a row of run down shops in a no-go area of Hemsworth known as the "Slabs". The centre quickly became an invaluable resource for the local community and has continued to flourish. After applying and being successful in receiving a National Lottery Grant in 1999 the group leased other 3 units and refurbished them. One became a computer suite, another became a well used community crèche and the other became a general resource room for meetings and the many and varied activities that take place at the centre. A professional kitchen was also installed and this is used for functions and luncheon clubs.

"This award is a fantastic honour and achievement for HDCI. Our previous awards include the Spirit of the Community Award and the Duke of York Award. We have a hard working team at the Initiative and they will be delighted to receive such a prestigious award." - Mrs Annie Marrs, Chair of the Initiative

Contact: Mrs Annie Marrs
Telephone 01977 618404
Email: hic5@hotmail.co.uk

Home-Start Leeds

Home-Start Leeds was established in 1987 as an independent charity. We are affiliated to our national body, Home-Start UK, and part of a network of schemes in the UK and worldwide.

Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them achieve their full potential. It offers a unique service recruiting and training volunteers from all backgrounds, who are usually parents themselves, to visit families in their own homes weekly, to offer informal, friendly, confidential support and practical help for parents with young children.

Over 200 volunteers visit young families in Leeds. The family are often struggling with a range of difficulties that make it hard for them to do the best for their children. Volunteers become a trusted family friend, supporting the parents as they grow in confidence and develop their parenting skills.

In 2007/08, 270 families in which there were 499 children were supported by their home-visiting volunteers. Families benefit enormously from the one to one individual support that volunteers are able to offer.

We are all delighted that the dedication of our wonderful volunteers has been recognised with this award.

Tel: 01132 442419
Email: office@home-startleeds.co.uk
Website: www.home-startleeds.co.uk

Hull Churches Home from Hospital Service

Hull Churches Home From Hospital Service (HCHH) fills a gap in the health care system by providing free support to adults, who do not meet the criteria for statutory services, on discharge from hospital.

Services include support to older people leaving hospital after major illness or surgery; carers, who are supporting those with life-limiting illness and people requiring assistive technology, i.e. TeleHealth (a pioneering technique introducing remote monitoring of discharged heart failure patients) and TeleCare to enable confidence and independence for people to stay safely in the home environment.

The service started 15 years ago in a small city parish Church of England church developing to include all church denominations.

Ms Jean Templeton
Tel: 01482 447673

Inside Outside

The Inside Outside project supports volunteers with learning disabilities to provide help to elderly householders in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. The volunteers are supported by Bede staff to carry out a wide range of tasks that elderly people find difficult but are vital to them maintaining their independence in their homes. Jobs include gardening, cleaning windows and ovens, helping take down and put up curtains, simple DIY, changing light bulbs, spring cleaning, moving furniture and lots of other jobs.

Some of the elderly people live on their own and find it difficult to get out, so the company of the volunteers is also appreciated - often the chat over a cup of tea afterwards is as important to them as the job.

The group is able to respond quickly and flexibly to requests for help as they work in a very local area. Very vulnerable householders receive regular visits, and they also check at times when people may need extra help, for example if it is very cold or hot.

It holds social events at the Bede Centre where volunteers act as hosts to the householders, and regular forums to discuss the progress of the project.

The householders value the contribution they make to developing the skills and community presence of the volunteers and thus do not feel in a position of dependence when receiving help.

The project has been running for three years, involving 40 volunteers in helping over 200 householders, delivering around 100 hours of voluntary work each month. The volunteers are very proud of the work they do and receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is a valuable recognition of their efforts.

Ms Verity Mihai
Tel: 0207 237 8930

Isle of Man Breakthrough Breast Cancer Group

The Isle of Man Breakthrough Breast Cancer Group was established in 1991 by 4 people who had been affected by breast cancer themselves.

The group aims to raise awareness of breast cancer in the community by giving talks in schools, colleges and women's groups; provide support and information to newly diagnosed patients and campaign for better services for cancer patients. Recently they campaigned successfully to establish a call/recall breast screening service on the island and also a Cancer Information Centre at the local hospital.

The Group have raised over £1million for breast cancer research over the past 16 years.

Contact: Mrs Jan Brooks
Tel: 01624 673264

Jersey Hospice Care Volunteers

A team of nearly 300 volunteers are constantly working behind the scenes to enable Jersey Hospice Care to provide the highest standard of palliative care for its patients.

They are an essential part of the package that patients receive when they enter the In-patient Unit at Clarkson House, where the charity is based. The volunteers undergo a careful process of training and selection and help seven days a week, carrying out everything from washing laundry and serving lunch and coffee, to collecting prescriptions and sitting by a bedside to keep someone company.

At the Day Hospice, which aims to give carers respite and patients an outing, volunteers sit and chat to patients, help with refreshments and ensure there are plenty of activities on offer, such as gardening or quizzes, should anyone wish to participate.

Volunteers are also involved in the delivery of the community Bereavement Support Service and provide an extra pair of hands, feet or ears out in the community with patients. They build up important one-on-one relationships by visiting them at home, helping with shopping and driving them to and from Day Hospice and hospital appointments.

The volunteers work tirelessly to fundraise on behalf of the charity, including keeping Jersey Hospice Care's successful shops ticking over through the week. They are always kept busy, either in the back of the shops sorting through piles of donations, or front of house serving customers and helping to create a great atmosphere.

The volunteers are incredibly generous with their time and energy, and Jersey Hospice Care quite simply could not survive without their help.

Contact: Steve Harvey
Tel: 01534 876855

JUMP 2K

JUMP 2K is committed to developing the abilities of disaffected young people in order for them to reach their full potential. The organisation seeks to help young people overcome under achievement and build their confidence, grow in self-esteem and take advantage of opportunities that their personal circumstances might not normally allow.

Their key objectives include:

• Providing opportunities for young people to develop in leadership and positive participation in the local and international communities
• Providing events and activity programmes designed by young people for young people
• Providing skills training for young people particularly in the areas of social education, health education, business and the arts
• Providing training for volunteers to be mentors, peer educators and voluntary youth workers
• Promoting activities that increase participation and aid the development of young people

During the past 8 years, JUMP 2K has developed its capacity to conduct effective youth work. Virtually, all of the projects are delivered by young people. JUMP 2K successfully works with a growing number of disadvantaged young people by supporting, re-educating and developing them to use their abilities not only to benefit themselves but their entire community. Young people participating in JUMP 2K's programmes are equipped to overcome life's challenges by systematically amending and eradicating a 'life logic' that can promote failure and can eventually lead to lack of achievement.

Contact Person: Miss Jacqui Henry (Strategic Director)
Contact Number: 020 8690 2211

Just Around the Corner

In 1998 Just Around the Corner was set up as a youth work charity, but since then their remit has changed to include family work and schools work – to create better links with young people. They also have a Horse Therapy Project, which gives young people access to horses, which are a great therapy. Young people open up around horses, and this type of activity appeals to girls more than boys.

As part of their work the group goes into local senior schools and run small groups which concentrate on Emotional Literacy – subjects such as drugs, alcohol, bullying, self–esteem and anger management. There are also JAC staff in these schools at lunchtimes to engage with young people in a relaxed environment.

Recently, JAC created a Community Interest Company so they could take over running the Oakwood Centre cafe (now renamed Just in the Park). All profits go back to JAC, and the menu includes fairtrade and ethically produced food and drink.

JAC also is on the streets of Woodley, Wokingham and Earley most weekday evenings – engaging with youth on the street - our original vision.

Contact: Sam and Yvonne Milligan
Tel: 0118 9441444
Website: www.jacoutreach.org

Killingworth Community Consortium

Killingworth Community Consortium was established in 1998 with the overall aim of bringing people together to revitalise the local area and create a safe, healthy, strong and caring community which is both active and inclusive.

Through effective engagement and solid partnerships it has been able to achieve a number of significant local priorities which have resulted in a new community centre and a new leisure centre.

Working with its fantastic network of volunteers, the Consortium is able to offer the community a wide range of diverse activities, services and events including: helping people into work by assisting with job search and helping to overcome barriers to employment including low confidence, poor skills, childcare and financial considerations; providing community health checks and diet and nutrition workshops, fit and fun events for all ages and creative workshops and clubs to name a few. The group also helped establish and continues to support its local Cygnet Community Café which provides employment to local people and significantly contributes to the local economy.

Contact: Judith Farquharson, Manager
Tel: 0191 200 8328
Email: kccjudith@hotmail.com
Website: www.killingworth.net

King's Lynn Samaritans

King's Lynn Branch of Samaritans was founded in 1968. Whilst part of the national Samaritans' organisation it is a self-funded local charity served by around 70 volunteers and a small fundraising committee

Volunteers provide confidential, non-judgemental, emotional support to people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. A quarter of a million contacts have been received during the last 40 years. Volunteers also provide training, support and development of listener schemes at Whitemoor and Wayland Prisons. These provide support to prisoners by other, specially trained and supported prisoners. 'We have achieved the highest audit scores ever in suicide, self harm and violence reduction and positive reports from prisoners and staff. I have no doubt that this is due to the Samaritans' team' - Prison Governor

The branch also provides a new help desk facility to patients, family and friends and staff at the local Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Branch Director, Tony Taylor, says: 'We are very honoured to have been nominated and selected for this wonderful award which recognises the dedication, loyalty and commitment of many hundreds of local volunteers and our supporters who have raised the funds to keep us going over the years.'

Contact: Tony Taylor, Branch Director
Tel: 01485 571685

Learn English At Home (LEAH)

Learn English at Home (LEAH) is a unique local charity which has an exemplary record in delivering one-to-one home tutoring in English and befriending of non-English speaking residents of Kingston and Richmond boroughs who are unable to attend regular English classes, mainly due to caring for pre-school children.

LEAH trains Volunteer Tutors to teach English to the most vulnerable and isolated learners helping them to acquire the tools needed to make the transition from complete isolation to taking an active part in the community.

Some of LEAH's 96 learners need help with English to shop, talk to their doctor or to join a local library. Others need to improve their English to move on to further learning or employment.

LEAH has had over 80 volunteers this year, 30% of whom are from ethnic minority groups themselves.

LEAH's support for its learners includes organising short courses (such as Citizenship, Diversity in Governance, Keep up with your Children at School, Organic Gardening and others) as well as monthly Mother and Toddler groups and social and educational events and outings. This year there was a visit to The London Aquarium and Kew Gardens, both places that most of the learners would never be able to experience without LEAH.

Sanja Kane, the Manager of LEAH said: "We are honoured to receive this prestigious award; all the more precious to us because we know that there are so many worthy voluntary organisations in the UK. Last year was a difficult one for LEAH and The Queen's Award could not come at a better time, recognising as it does the commitment and hard work of all the people who have volunteered for LEAH over the last 26 years without whom we would not be where we are today."

Contact: Sanja Kane
Tel: 020 8255 6144
Email: leah@leah.org.uk
Website: www.leah.org.uk