A POPULAR Evesham furniture re-use charity has been honoured for a quarter of century of helping the community with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.
Blackminster-based Roundabout collects donated furniture and redistributes it to families and individuals in financial need and away from landfill.
Charity chiefs will be honoured at a Royal garden party at Buckingham Palace and will be given a signed certificate from Her Majesty The Queen from the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Lt Col Patrick Holcroft on July 19.
The honour comes in the charity’s 25th anniversary year which has seen the Roundabout offer a vital lifeline to families in South Worcestershire, West Warwickshire and the North Cotswolds.
Roundabout allocates items based on referrals from health care professionals, housing associations, charities and other non-governmental organisations who help vulnerable people in the community.
Manager Peter Andrews said: “Roundabout is immensely proud to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the hard work of our volunteers and staff, without whom we simply could not provide the range of services for those in need.
“We would like to thank all those who have supported us over the past 25 years and we look forward to the next quarter of a century.”
The award was created by HM The Queen in 2002 to mark her Golden Jubilee, recognising excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community and is seen as the MBE for volunteer groups.
Charity chair John Lashley said: “What better year could there be for the phenomenal work of the charities volunteers to receive national recognition and what better recognition than the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.”
Winners of the award will also be presented with an English Crystal with the Queen’s Voluntary Award logo and will be permitted to use the official award logo.
Coun Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for communities at Worcestershire County Council said: “Volunteers are such an important part of any community and to see people in Worcestershire recognised like this is fantastic.
“Volunteering is essential for many charitable organisations, but it can also offer a rewarding experience, a chance to learn new skills and to socialise.”
Visit www.roundaboutevesham.org.uk for more.
