The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
We are absolutely delighted to announce that all our Volunteers have been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service!
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Queenscourt is one of only 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the UK to receive the prestigious award this year.
As we celebrate our Pearl Anniversary and 30 years of providing compassionate care, we recognise that none of this would be possible without the thousands of volunteers who have become valued members of #teamqueenscourt over the years. We have been overwhelmed by our volunteers’ generosity and kindness, and even during the Pandemic, they have continued to be dedicated and enthusiastic members of our team.
It is wonderful that you have all been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
On behalf of everyone at Queenscourt we want to say a huge thank you to all of our volunteers, past and present, and to extend our congratulations on receiving this richly deserved honour.
Kindest Regards
Katy, Sandy & Ash
Celebrations as Queenscourt’s Volunteers receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
On Tuesday 17th of August, the volunteers at Queenscourt Hospice were officially presented with The Queens Award for Voluntary Service (QAVs) by representatives of Her Majesty the Queen.
The presentation of the Crystal Award and certificate was made by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Mark FW Blundell, to Bill Witter, one of Queenscourt’s dedicated and long-serving gardening volunteers. Mr Blundell was accompanied on the day by Deputy Lieutenants Mr Nicholas Wainwright MBE DL and Mr Alan Chick JP DL.
In his opening address Mr Blundell said, “We were absolutely delighted to attend the hospice and present Queenscourt’s Volunteers with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Volunteering is more important today than ever, however many volunteers give their time with little reward.
Her Majesty the Queen believes their commitment to others should be recognised. I would like to congratulate all of Queenscourt’s Volunteers on their achievement.”
Bill Witters said: “It was a great honour to accept this award on behalf of Queenscourt’s volunteers, I am extremely proud of the team and how hard we have all worked. It was a fantastic day for the hospice.”
On 25th May 2022, two members of #teamqueenscourt were invited to Buckingham Palace in London to celebrate The Queens Award for Voluntary Service awarded to us in 2021.
The day involved a marquee with a fabulous spread of food and drinks, a parade by the iconic London Beefeaters and an appearance by the Royal Family themselves.
Ash Halligan Giles, Volunteer Administrator, and Jan Farrell, Volunteer were invited along to the Garden Party to represent our hospice. Ash said “it was certainly a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. The Palace gardens were stunning and everyone was dressed for the occasion in top hats and fascinators – it was a very British occasion and oozed tradition! Jan said “I was delighted to be chosen to attend the palace celebrations, it was a really lovely day and we got to speak to some very interesting people. It was such a privilege to be there and represent Queenscourt, especially as the Queens Jubilee celebrations were approaching. It was a great atmosphere.”