The Washburn Heritage Centre is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, 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 the 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 2 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.
Representatives of the volunteers will receive the award from Johanna Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from the group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award
Sally Robinson, Chair of the Heritage Centre Management Committee says:
“This is terrific news for our all volunteers and is a real reward for their tremendous hard work and commitment. The Centre is closed at the moment because of coronavirus, but when we do re-open we will certainly have something to celebrate.”
