Blue Cat Initiative, a voluntary organisation working in this area for the benefit of local people has been officially recognised as delivering an outstanding service to the people it serves. 96k would like to congratulate Mike and Frances on the hard work and commitment they have shown over the years. This is truly well deserved.
2ND JUNE 2011
The Queen honours outstanding volunteer group in Norfolk with prestigious Award
Blue Cat Initiative from Norwich has been announced as a winner of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups who work in their local community for the benefit of others.
This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.
Blue Cat Initiative has received the Award for its engagement of homeless and vulnerable members of the community within innovative learning activities.
Those receiving this year’s Award were selected from 413 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
Blue Cat Initiative will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Norfolk, Richard Jewson 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, Frances Longman and Mike Smith-Clare from Blue Cat Initiative said: “We are delighted to have received this prestigious honour for the work Blue Cat does within the community. “
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,
“Volunteer groups make such an important contribution to their communities, often without praise for the incredible job they do. In these difficult times their efforts are even more valuable. It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Blue Cat Initiative with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits they bring to others’ lives.”
More than 980 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now received this annual Award 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, visit www.direct.gov.uk/qavs, where a nomination form can be downloaded.
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For further information
Mike or Frances: bluecat_initiative@yahoo.co.uk
07968 864484 (Mike)
07968 863317 (Frances)
Note to editors
About the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen’s Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
The Award is overseen by the Office for Civil Society (OCS). As part of the Cabinet Office, OCS works across government departments to provide support to voluntary and community organisations and is responsible for delivery of the Big Society programme.
Groups must be nominated for the Award – self nomination is not permitted. A group (two or more people) can be nominated if it is based in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The group has to have been volunteering for the benefit of people in the UK or overseas for at least three years and more than half its members must be volunteers who have the right of residence in the UK. Groups solely concerned with fundraising for charitable purposes are not eligible. Further details on entrance criteria and the nomination process are available from www.direct.gov.uk/qavs.
