We’ve had some AMAZING news!
Reach Out to the Community has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK – it’s the equivalent of an MBE!
We’re one of 230 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. 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. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including a community shop in Cornwall, an environmental group in Swansea, a group working with refugees and vulnerable people in Stirling and a thriving community arts centre in County Down.
We’re looking forward to receiving our award from Sir Warren Smith, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, later this summer. And what’s more, two of our team will be going to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award!
“We are all so thrilled and proud that Reach Out to the Community has received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. It’s a wonderful tribute to everyone who has helped us in so many ways over the last four years. We’d be nothing without our volunteers – they hold everything together, working in the shop; delivering furniture, clothes and food; advising homeless clients and making outreach visits,” says Stephanie Moore, one of our co-founders.
“We’ve had some fantastic support from our partners and the people of South Manchester too,” adds Becky Elliott, our second co-founder. “We’ve had to rise to some tough new challenges in recent weeks, working in a different way to help people who’ve been badly hit by the virus and its impact. We’ve pulled together and we’re getting the job done, cooking meals and providing food for homeless people, rough sleepers and those who find it hard to make ends meet. This award comes as the best possible morale boost for us all.”
Find out more about the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service
