2008 Award Winners

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Springboard Project

The Springboard Project is a community based Children's Centre in Horsham providing a range of inclusive play and recreational opportunities for a whole range of children and youngsters, including those with additional needs and disabilities.

Their Charity's roots were established in 1989 with "Grasshoppers", which started as a self-help group set up by some parents in Horsham. This is now one of Springboard Project's five groups for children and young people with disabilities, providing a range of activities and opportunities as well as giving valuable short-break respite to parents and carers.

Their organisation caters for over 200 disabled children from Horsham District, Crawley Borough, Mid-Sussex and the West Sussex coastal area. They offer a wide choice of sessions from various planned activities and outings that are available.

Without their young volunteers - most of them teenagers from local schools - who support these groups, they would not be able to operate at all. They all bring fantastic enthusiasm, energy and empathy to the children and youngsters who often need support in the most challenging of circumstances.

In addition to their groups for disabled children, they provide "play 'n stay" facilities every weekday for over 600 families. During 2007 Springboard House received over 34,000 visits. The children and their families enjoy a wide range of play facilities on offer, including a soft play Adventure Room, Sensory Room, Toy Library, Lounge area, Kitchen and Their Jubilee Leisure Garden.

The volunteers who support the Centre's activities make a valuable contribution and often it may be their first step on the road back to employment or the vocation of their choice.

On hearing news of the Award, Project Manager Nigel Scott-Dickeson paid a fulsome tribute: "Without our volunteers, Springboard Project would not be able to provide the tremendous level of support that our children and families need. In many cases, we would not be able to run some of our clubs and groups without them, so their contribution is immense. The dedication, loyalty and sheer enthusiasm they demonstrate never ceases to amaze me. This is a deserved reward to them collectively and to their qualities as individuals."

Email: pmanager@springboardproject.com
Website: www.springboardproject.com

Springburn Alive and Kicking Project

Springburn Alive and Kicking Project has been in existence for almost 20 years.

The object of the Project is to provide a daily lunch to elderly and disabled people in the greater Springburn area (meals on wheels to the less able) with the provision of social, recreational and cultural activities along with other vital services.

The Project is open 5 days Monday- Friday 9am - 9.30pm (outreach work at the weekend) with a wide range of activities available. Members are transported to and from the Centre. The Project relies heavily on volunteers. The staff and management committee acknowledge their debt to them and the volunteers, in turn, most of whom are over 60 themselves, know how much they are valued.

The activities major on physical recreation with carpet bowls, keep fit and dancing, however, classes in horticultural, arts and crafts and theatre performances (The Red Road Young Uns) are immensely popular. The Red Road Young Uns theatre group is a tour-de-force. People who have never done anything like this in their lives have now discovered talents and confidence that they never dreamt they possessed.

Holidays (both at home and abroad) and day outings are also part of the programme.

The Project has become not only a place of shelter, succour and recreation, but a model of community care to 300 members who can spend the whole day at the centre with a subsidised three course lunch menu for £2.50. Many of these members have compound problems in areas of health, disability and personal circumstances but life in the project has a purpose, and new friendships and interests make their troubles recede. Thousands of people have benefited from the project.

With such a catalogue of achievements and the evidence of so many satisfied members, the Project is providing a vast multifaceted resource for the community without which, life would be mentally, emotionally and physically impoverished. Its present successes are providing inspiration for others from deprived areas who leave after a visit with hope and determination in their hearts.

The Queens Award is a great achievement and acknowledgment of 20 years hard work and commitment.

Contact: Mrs Mary Ellis
Tel: 0141 5580329

St Luke's (Cheshire) Hospice

The staff at St Luke's Hospice provide compassionate care for people suffering from a life-threatening illness in a calm, loving and homely environment. The staff use their professional expertise in a warm and considerate way and are skilled in helping to address body, mind, emotional and spiritual needs. Of equal importance is the support they are able to give to the families and carers of their patients and to those who have suffered bereavement.

In addition, they have recognised the need for people to access the services of the hospice following a diagnosis at an early stage of their illness. This will allow them to live comfortably and support their transition back to health wherever possible.

St Luke's has a keen sense of social responsibility and recognises part of their role as reaching out into the community to share their knowledge, skills and expertise with both the local population and professional carers throughout Cheshire.

The presence and contribution of volunteers to the community of care is central to our hospice. They add to the warmth and humanity of the team; they bring a sense of the local community into the organization.

Contact: Carol Smith
Tel: 01606 551 246

Swansea City Bravehearts

Swansea City Bravehearts is a football club that was set up in September 2000. Kath Gallagher, then Disability Sports Development Officer, started a taster session for football at the Morfa. After six weeks it was decided that a club should be started as there was obviously a need. Roy Thomas took the course and asked an ex-footballer, Gary Richards to help out coaching for a few weeks. Seven years later Gary is Head Coach and Chairman of Bravehearts. Kath approached Bev Cotter to run the club. Seven years later Bev is Secretary and Manager of Bravehearts. Both feel the need for this facility for youngsters is a must. They started with just six youngsters.

The club would not exist without the help and dedication of its volunteers. Swansea City Bravehearts is run as a social club where football is also played. The group strongly feel that the parents need support as well as the youngsters. There are now almost eighty youngsters registered and the group is affiliated to F.A.W. & Mencap.

Every year they go for a weekend tour to Kiln Park in Tenby. They also have a Presentation Evening.

Youngsters' kits are supplied through fundraising as the group feels parents have enough pressure in their lives and therefore they are not asked to fundraise. Each youngster is provided a kit, and the group has links with Social Services that enable them to hire transport at low cost from them.

This year they will be holding their first ever Tournament at Swansea Uplands RFC. It will be an event where clubs can be invited from all over Wales. They already have links with eight clubs and in the last two years four of their youngsters have been chosen to play for the Mencap Gateway National Squad, Steve Parsons & Matthew Bowen 2006, Martin Griffiths & Jack Thomas 2007, Jamie Jones & Damien Kiley in 2008. In 2007 they came home with the European Cup. Every year they are invited to take eight youngsters to Warwick for trials for the squad. They have regular games with Northampton, and have played Chelsea, Wolverhampton and several other teams all over the country.

"We are very proud of all our youngsters, their achievements are immeasurable. They care & encourage for each other and develop social skills we hope will help them in their future lives. Our dream is to have a sports facility for the disabled in our city!" - Gary Richards (Chairman)

Contact: Bev Cotter
Tel: 07875 863 177
Email: bevcoter@hotmail.com

The Bridgend Centre

The Bridgend Centre is a Community Social Enterprise and Independent Registered Charity, providing community services to people in Bollington, Macclesfield and surrounding areas.

Established in 1990 as Bollington Drop-In Centre, it revives the community spirit by providing a friendly and informal meeting place where everyone is respected, valued, inspired and encouraged to volunteer and fulfill their potential.

The Centre is open four days per week and aims to improve the quality of life, especially for those feeling isolated or suffering from physical or mental health problems. Barriers are broken down through community integration and social inclusion. Our open door policy allows people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to enhance their lives by learning new skills, so making each individual feel part of a caring, sharing society.

Education, Heritage and Tourism, Charity Shop, Community Shopping and Walking for Health are some of the diverse projects run by the Centre together with a varied programme of weekly health and educational activities. All projects and activities rely on the unselfish support of our hardworking and dedicated volunteers.

Contact: Cath Hockney
Tel: 01625 576311
Website: www.bridgendcentre.org.uk

The Harpenden Trust

Formed 60 years ago, The Harpenden Trust has pursued its enduring objectives of helping those in need, of all ages within the Harpenden community. It is supported by the community, run by the community, for the community.

Over the years it has acquired donations and legacies and has invested these to generate an annual income. In addition it carries out a high profile Christmas Appeal for funds from every household in Harpenden.

It owns its administrative premises, The Harpenden Trust Centre. This has recently been upgraded to comply with all the current legislation, offering two large halls for education and community use.

Each year the income is distributed in various forms to 1,000 or more people in need. Also grants are given to local societies, associations and groups. The Trust activities include: funding and delivering Christmas lunches to the housebound, supplying over 150 Christmas food parcels to the elderly, assisting families with furniture, utility costs, clothing, food vouchers and school expenses. To alleviate loneliness, The Trust organises coach outings, a travel club, tea dances and elderly/children's parties.

If there is a need in the community, The Harpenden Trust responds.

Enquiries:
Trust Office
90 Southdown Road
Harpenden
Herts AL5 1PS

Tel: 01582 460457

The Jersey Across Group

The Jersey Across Group was formed in 1983 to provide sick, disabled or disadvantaged Jersey people (known as our VIPs), who are unable to travel independently, with a week's holiday to Lourdes in the Pyrenees. Although the Group has a Christian base and ethos, the selection of unable travellers and helpers does not take into account their religion (or lack of religion).

Each VIP has a voluntary helper, and the volunteers are also accompanied by nurses and a priest. The whole group comprises 45 people, and they stay in shared rooms in a beautiful hostel near Lourdes. During the week they attend some spectacular religious services, as well as visiting beautiful scenic areas with mountains and waterfalls, and generally enjoy themselves just as any large group of friends on holiday. For some of the VIPs the trip is the only way that they can have a holiday away from Jersey, for others it can make them aware that despite their disability, travel is possible.

VIPs travel free whilst helpers contribute towards their costs, and the group raises the rest of the money from donations and fundraising events throughout the year.

Contact: Mary Renouf
Tel: 01534 858187
Email: maryr@jerseymail.co.uk

The Lyneal Trust

Lyneal Trust was established to provide canal based holidays for disabled people of all kinds whether individually, in families, school, or other groups.

The Trust is based at Lyneal Wharf, near Ellesmere on the Llangollen canal in north Shropshire and operates two purpose built canal boats, one of which is a cruiser sleeping 8, and the other a day boat which can take up to 12 people. The Trust also has purpose built shore based accommodation comprising a Cottage, two Chalet bungalows, and a Games Room. The chalets can accommodate up to 12 people, and the cottage up to two able bodied persons.

Both the boats are specially built and have lifts and other facilities. Normally parties hiring the cruiser provide their own skipper. Volunteer skippers for day trips can be provided if required.

The accommodation is self catering, and both boats and all buildings have wheelchair access including disabled showers and toilet facilities.

There is a large garden with BBQ facility and car parking for small as well as large vehicles.

Both the boats and the accommodation can be booked on a short break basis or for longer periods.

Enquiries:
The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND

Tel: 01743 252728
Email: pushkar.trivedi@shropshire-cc.gov.uk
Website: www.lyneal-trust.org.uk

The Riverside Centre

The Riverside Centre is the Isle of Wight's principal social firm, with a commitment to inclusion and diversity in all it does, from employment to training, arts & crafts to a gymnasium, day care to home support, and facilities management to outreach: Riverside is about delivering Quality from a Centre of Quality.

Established in 1981 (International Year of Disabled People), the Riverside Centre is a Charity and social enterprise that harnesses the talents of all its stakeholders, with volunteers delivering a range of services and activities that embrace the abilities of all individuals.

It is open 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, and is an anchor within the Island community, very much part of the local landscape and a beacon to aspiring to achieve.

Working with partner agencies such as the local authority, it also provides an island base for Carers UK, Footprint Trust, Advocacy Trust, DIAL and Blue Sky Arts: sharing similar values and embracing the spirit of voluntarism.

Contact: Richard Priest
Tel: 01983 822209
Email: Richard.priest@riversidecentre.org.uk

The Salvation Army Haven Community Project

The Haven Community Project in Portsmouth was set up by the Salvation Army 14 years ago in response to the very obvious social deprivation immediately surrounding the Church building. Its work has rapidly expanded in response to emerging social need. The centre has consulted widely in developing new services for the community, and local residents have a high regard for what is provided.

Services provided by the centre include:

• A highly regarded 56 place Neighbourhood Nursery offering quality, affordable childcare, enabling local people to access jobs and training.
• A Good Neighbours scheme which looks after over 200 housebound elderly people throughout the City. Good Neighbours has approaching 100 volunteers offering vital support to some of the most vulnerable people in the City.
• A Furniture Project which provides free basic furnishings to 150 families a year who are being re-housed after living in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. The scheme also provides training placements for low skilled long term unemployed people, in order to build their confidence and abilities to enable them to re-enter the job market.
• A Community Cafe manned solely by volunteers offering healthy, affordable fare to the local community.

In addition to these services the project provides state of the art, affordable conference facilities, is an integral part of the City's emergency response provision, and plays a key role in partnership working and initiatives across the City.

Volunteers play an absolutely key role in every part of the work that the Haven undertakes, with approximately 150 volunteers actively involved across each of the centres projects.

Contact: Mr Adrian Clee
Tel: 02392 890 952

The Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group (WCASG)

The Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group (WCASG) provides support and representation to the Heart and Lung Centre patients and carers. This is achieved through its members' role as the patients' friends and through its fundraising activities. It is a registered charity (No. 701667), which was formed by ex-patients of the Coronary Care Unit of New Cross Hospital in 1985.

Currently the WCASG has nearly 500 enrolled members and a committee of 21 and has an excellent reputation both within the Hospital and in the Community as a whole. The good work of the Committee and its members in supporting patients and their carers has been much appreciated by the many thousands of people that the group has supported since its inception.

In the years that it has been in existence over £1,500,000 has been provided by the Group from fundraising for cardiac care in one form or another. In April 2000, the Group presented a petition to parliament containing over 10,000 signatures, which was instrumental in supporting the provision of tertiary services in Wolverhampton for the patients and for their carers of the Black Country.

The Group holds regular Patient and Carer Partnership meetings, which are open to anyone and has a quarterly newsletter. The Website is also worth a visit.

Cardiac patients and their carers are represented by members of the Group within the Heart and Lung Centre and on committees both locally, regionally and nationally. In this way the patient's voice is heard on matters which concern them. The Group wishes to be involved in everything that affects heart patients and their carers, and therefore have adopted the motto "Nothing about us without us!"

Contact: Mr Arthur Timmis
Tel: 01902 755 695

Thorplands United Football Club

Thorplands United is a community football club that is based on social inclusion. Its aim is to provide football for all in a safe and friendly environment and encourage the ethos of fair play and good sportsmanship at all times. It recognises and implements equal opportunities promoting the idea that football is for everyone regardless of ability, gender, religion or ethnicity.

Formed in 2002, the group ran just one adult team until 2005. It then expanded into youth football and expected to add one or two youth teams. By the time the season had started it had 11 teams playing in various leagues. This included both male and female teams at youth and adult level. The group had registered over 200 players to participate in local football leagues.

In season 2008/09 Thorplands entered 14 teams into leagues, with approximately 300 registered players being involved. It has in the region of 50 volunteers who help to run the teams, act as committee members and ensure that the club is run according to their constitution and code of conduct.

As well as providing training sessions and competitive football matches, the club embarks on many other social activities. It has a Christmas disco for children where Santa always makes a guest appearance and donates a small gift to each child. The youth teams get a bowling bonding session where they get to know their team mates and show off their bowling skills. At the end of season they have their annual presentation evening where everyone gets rewarded for their hard work from the season passed. They also remember their volunteers who work tirelessly to make these things happen, especially giving the kids something to look forward to each weekend and giving them a purpose to be part of something.

Contact: Peter Brewin (Club Secretary)
Tel: 01604 510445 / 07961 086261

Wenlock Olympian Society

Wenlock Olympian Society is devoted to preserving the ideals of Dr William Penny Brookes, the Victorian doctor now recognised as the founding father of the modern Olympic Games. The Society is based in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, the beautiful home town of Dr Brookes.

It was in 1850 that the first ever Olympian Games were held in Much Wenlock. The Games, brainchild of Dr Brookes, were originally designed "to promote the moral, physical and intellectual improvement of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Wenlock". Over subsequent years this concept inspired individuals and sporting organisations throughout Europe - inspiration that made a significant contribution, in conjunction with Baron de Coubertin, to the re-birth of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

The Wenlock Olympian Games are held in July each year, attracting athletes from all across the UK. Fourteen sports were included in the five day Games programme in 2008 with over a thousand entries. The 2008 Games were the 122nd.

The Wenlock Olympian Live Arts festival is held in Wenlock annually in March with primary and secondary school children from throughout the region competing in classes for solo and ensemble musical instruments, singing, poetry, and prose.

The Society's Archive preserves the original Minute books of the Society and the "Roll of the Victors" from Victorian times together with an important and growing collection of documents and artefacts detailing the development of the Olympian ideal in a little country town in rural England.

Contact: Peter Thompson, Secretary
Tel: 01952 727907
www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk

West Alness Residents Association

West Alness Residents Association (WARA) was founded in 1976 to provide a voice for tenants on the new estates in the west end of Alness in Easter Ross, with no social amenities for families in 1,000 households. In 1978 the group acquired the lease of two unused shop shells from The Highland Council at a rent of £1 a year, if asked. These units became the West End Community Centre until a funding package with The Big Lottery donating 50% was put in place to enable the extension and refurbishment project to go ahead in 2006.

The Committee is very happy to receive this award. Mrs Jennifer MacLeod, Chair described it as "the icing on the cake after all their hard work". The Centre now provides or supports Mother and Toddler sessions, youth clubs for ages 4-8yrs, 9-12yrs, secondary school age and teenagers' weekend drop in sessions.

Services include a lunch club, with silver surfers and a prize bingo session, three holiday play schemes each year for up to 55 children daily from underprivileged backgrounds, Santa's Grotto,learning courses, partnership in an energy saving project and provision of its office space and an IT suite.

A large volunteer base provides most of these activities, with some sessional workers and two part time staff.

Contact: Mrs Jennifer MacLeod, Chair
Tel: 01349 884896 or 01349 883564
Email: info@westendcommunitycentre.org.uk
Website: www.westendcommunitycentre.org.uk