NATIONAL Gloucestershire-based charity the Meningitis Trust has won the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012.
The trust is one of 60 recipients of the award in celebration of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee and in recognition of its work – in particular the support it provides to volunteers.
The trust will now be invited alongside other winners to a Buckingham Palace reception next Spring.
Trust boss Sue Davie said: "We're thrilled to receive this prestigious award and it's a real feather in the cap for our volunteering programme. It's wonderful to receive this recognition."
"Our volunteers are at the heart of the Trust and everything we do, helping us deliver on our vision. Whether it's helping out at our head office or around the country in the community teams, they play a vital part in responding to needs and reducing the impact of meningitis. Without them we simply wouldn't be able to achieve as much as we do."
The Award was announced in February last year in recognition of Her Majesty's The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and is for national organisations that involve volunteers in projects covering the whole of one or more of the United Kingdom's four nations.
Nominations were assessed by an Award Committee who checked that organisations demonstrated good practice in their involvement with volunteers through such things as having a clear volunteer recruitment and induction process, providing relevant training, taking effective steps to recruit volunteers and having a dedicated volunteer manager.
Jo Campbell, Volunteer Manager at the Trust, said: "Our volunteers are made to feel welcome, valued and supported. They are vital to our success, helping across all teams and ensuring no-one faces meningitis alone, responding to the needs of those affected, reducing the impact of the disease and raising vital and potentially lifesaving awareness as well as funds.
"And they get a lot out of it too, including recognition. Earlier this year one of our volunteers, Nicky Price, became Wales Volunteer of the Year and another, Alex Williams, who was one of our Young Ambassadors, won Third Sector magazine's Volunteer of the Year Award. If you'd like to volunteer with us then I'd love to talk to you!"
The Trust's application for the award was supported by volunteers Sheila Scott and Nicola Probert. Sheila told the Award Committee: "When the world is sleeping and you feel so alone there is always a kind voice at the end of a phone to help put your mind at rest. It is like one big family and you are accepted into the fold."
Winning the award means the Trust receives a certificate, signed by Her Majesty, and can use the official Diamond Jubilee logo on its website and other materials.
To speak to Jo Campbell about volunteering opportunities call 0845 120 0664 or email joannec@meningitis-trust.org
The trust is one of 60 recipients of the award in celebration of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee and in recognition of its work – in particular the support it provides to volunteers.
The trust will now be invited alongside other winners to a Buckingham Palace reception next Spring.
Trust boss Sue Davie said: "We're thrilled to receive this prestigious award and it's a real feather in the cap for our volunteering programme. It's wonderful to receive this recognition."
"Our volunteers are at the heart of the Trust and everything we do, helping us deliver on our vision. Whether it's helping out at our head office or around the country in the community teams, they play a vital part in responding to needs and reducing the impact of meningitis. Without them we simply wouldn't be able to achieve as much as we do."
The Award was announced in February last year in recognition of Her Majesty's The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and is for national organisations that involve volunteers in projects covering the whole of one or more of the United Kingdom's four nations.
Nominations were assessed by an Award Committee who checked that organisations demonstrated good practice in their involvement with volunteers through such things as having a clear volunteer recruitment and induction process, providing relevant training, taking effective steps to recruit volunteers and having a dedicated volunteer manager.
Jo Campbell, Volunteer Manager at the Trust, said: "Our volunteers are made to feel welcome, valued and supported. They are vital to our success, helping across all teams and ensuring no-one faces meningitis alone, responding to the needs of those affected, reducing the impact of the disease and raising vital and potentially lifesaving awareness as well as funds.
"And they get a lot out of it too, including recognition. Earlier this year one of our volunteers, Nicky Price, became Wales Volunteer of the Year and another, Alex Williams, who was one of our Young Ambassadors, won Third Sector magazine's Volunteer of the Year Award. If you'd like to volunteer with us then I'd love to talk to you!"
The Trust's application for the award was supported by volunteers Sheila Scott and Nicola Probert. Sheila told the Award Committee: "When the world is sleeping and you feel so alone there is always a kind voice at the end of a phone to help put your mind at rest. It is like one big family and you are accepted into the fold."
Winning the award means the Trust receives a certificate, signed by Her Majesty, and can use the official Diamond Jubilee logo on its website and other materials.
To speak to Jo Campbell about volunteering opportunities call 0845 120 0664 or email joannec@meningitis-trust.org