A local Stafford charity SCALE (Sound Creation Advancing Learning and Education for special needs) has been announced as one of the 103 UK volunteering groups to win this year’s The Queen Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.
The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.
SCALE has received the Award for Supporting the health and education of children and adults with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties.
Winners of this year’s Award were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have helped or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in the community.
SCALE received a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Staffordshire, John Hawley at a special ceremony. The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
Speaking of their success, John Kirby from SCALE said "we are thrilled to have received this prestigious honour for the work we do with special needs children and adults in the local community"
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Marytn Lewis said "Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together. It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of SCALE with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others".
More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, click here where a nomination form can be downloaded.
