Winners of The Queen's Awards for Voluntary Service 2004

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

The second group of winners of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (previously known as The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award) were announced on 2 June 2004.

The Queen was pleased to see such a wide range of winners for this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which recognises the many teams of volunteers throughout the country who give so generously of their time and energy to help others.

A total of 110 voluntary groups won the award this year.

The winners from around the regions were:

East Midlands

1 Derbyshire Dales Careline

making a daily telephone call to vulnerable, isolated, elderly and housebound people to provide information and conversation.

2 Inspiration FM

encouraging BME communities and disadvantaged people in Northampton to get involved in community radio.

3 Meridale Organisation

providing a community hall in Sutton-on-Sea for educational, leisure and charity fundraising activities.

4 Radford Care Group

supporting older people in Nottingham living at home independently.

5 SOLVE IT

promoting awareness of the consequences of volatile substance abuse to young people in Northamptonshire.

6 TASC Grub Club

providing Northampton young people, aged 8 upwards, with opportunities to improve their personal and life skills.

7 The Winchester Club

providing opportunities for adults with disabilities in Derby to interact and organise their own group outings.

East of England

8 Colchester Rape Crisis Line

providing support services for women and young people in Colchester and surrounding areas who have experienced sexual violence.

9 Community Meeting Point - Harpenden

providing recreational and leisure facilities and activities for people with mental health problems.

10 Fledglings providing a unique nationwide information and practical support service for disabled people, particularly children, their families and carers.

11 Hertfordshire MS Therapy Centre

providing support, counselling, advice and therapeutic services to MS sufferers.

12 Lowestoft Civic Society - Heritage Workshop Centre

preserving the heritage of Lowestoft and district and providing employment for students, unemployed people and those with special needs.

13 March and Chatteris Talking Newspaper Association

providing recorded tapes and tactile reading matter to visually impaired and physically handicapped people in the local community.

14 Mind Resource Centre Volunteer Group

supporting people with severe and enduring mental illness in Norwich, enabling them to live self-supporting lives.

15 Mitalee Youth Association

providing sports, arts and educational opportunities to young people in Luton from disadvantaged backgrounds.

16 Stalham Brass Band

encouraging people of all ages to gain traditional skills as brass musicians and providing entertainment at local activities and charity events.

17 The Fragile X Society

providing support and information to Fragile X families, raising awareness and encouraging research into the syndrome.

18 Young Citizens Guild

encouraging young people in Great Yarmouth to become better citizens through participation in activities and local events.

19 Youth Plus

encouraging and supporting young people with learning disabilities in Ongar to be actively involved in the community.

Guernsey

20 The Guernsey Society for the Physically Disabled

assisting with the provision of facilities for the physically disabled and those with learning difficulties through activities and fund-raising.

Isle of Man

21 Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteer Services

providing support and services for people with visual impairment.

Jersey

22 Headway Jersey

providing information and support for people with brain injuries, their relatives and carers.

London

23 African Youth Organisation

advancing the education of children and young people in Newham, including African culture and moral development.

24 Age Exchange

improving the quality of life of older people through emphasising the value of their reminiscences.

25 Brent Indian Community Centre

providing services to the Asian community in Brent and encouraging young people to appreciate their heritage

26 Genuine Empowerment of Mothers in Society

providing advice, advocacy and support to women from disadvantaged and marginalised communities in London.

27 NSF Sunrise - Greenwich group of 'Rethink'

supporting through mutual self-help, seriously mentally ill people, their carers and relatives.

28 Save the World Club

encouraging people of all ages in Kingston-upon-Thames to take pride in their neighbourhood through civic awareness and the promotion of the sustainable use of resources.

29 Somali Family Support Group

providing information, advocacy and advice to Somalis and other East Africans living in London.

30 The Cocktail Crew

visiting oncology and orthopaedic patients in Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, serving them nutritional supplementary drinks.

31 The Food Chain

providing nutritious services for housebound London residents with AIDS related illnesses.

32 The British Red Cross Skin Camouflage Service

assisting people in London, coping with a disfigurement, and providing support and advice on skin camouflage techniques.

North East

33 Barnados SECOS Project

providing counselling to children aged 12-18 years in Middlesborough, abused through prostitution, promoting their well-being and exit from that lifestyle.

34 Pennywell Community Association

providing a full range of activities for local residents in Sunderland and addressing their needs.

35 Stockton Blind People's Voice

working to achieve equality for blind and visually impaired people in the Borough.

36 Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool Association

providing affordable water-based activities for the community and its visitors.

North West

37 Bolton Hospice Volunteer Team

achieving quality of life for patients and their families through administrative help, support, transport and fundraising.

38 Connect

improving services for disabled children and supporting their families in St Helens.

39 Mothers Against Violence

addressing factors leading to gang involvement through an education programme in Manchester, supporting victims and offenders.

40 Northern Fells Group

organising services, events and activities to benefit the welfare of residents of seven rural parishes in Cumbria

41 Sahara in Preston

supporting Asian and African-Caribbean women to participate in the social/economic life of their community.

42 Volunteers of St John's Hospice Lancaster

maintaining the quality of life for those facing life threatening illnesses through a wide range of voluntary activities.

43 Stockport Plaza Trust

providing a venue for community arts and fundraising events and support for restoration of a Grade 2* listed super cinema.

44 Sundowns

supporting Downs Syndrome families in Wirrel and South Wirral through events, activities and a newsletter.

45 The Blacon Project

building a better Blacon through the active involvement of the community to find local solutions to local problems.

46 The PIP Project

working for the social inclusion of children and young people with special needs living in Blackpool and surrounding areas.

Northern Ireland

47 Carnany Community Association

enhancing the lives of residents through environmental projects, clubs and events.

48 Moree Community Association

developing and enhancing community spirit through cultural activities, education and support.

49 Simon Community Outspoken Group

raising awareness of homeless issues in Northern Ireland through peer education.

50 The Bann Recorder

providing a news service for visually impaired people in County Down.

51 The Share Holiday Village Volunteer Team

providing a centre for creative, recreational and educational programmes for disabled and non-disabled people.

Scotland

52 Alness Environmental Group/Alness in Bloom

undertaking environmental projects within community gardens and provision of floral displays to enhance Alness town centre.

53 Deveron Stroke Club

providing social and therapeutic help to stroke sufferers in Banff, Turriff and surrounding area, their families and carers.

54 Envirokirn Action Group

maintaining the local natural environment in Kirn, through projects and fundraising for the benefit of residents and tourists.

55 Friends

improving the local environment in Stevenston through creative projects for young people.

56 GAIN (Guth Airson/Iarrtasan Nis)

encouraging social and leisure activities on the Isle of Lewis including environmental awareness.

57 Inverclyde Carers Council

representing the interests and aspirations of local voluntary carers with training and support.

58 Johnstone Credit Union Volunteers - People

helping people providing not-for-profit financial services to the community in Renfrewshire.

59 Orkney Talking Newspaper Association

providing tapes of local newspaper articles for visually impaired and physically disabled residents in the community.

60 The Food Train

providing a low cost shopping delivery service for elderly and disabled people in Dumfries and Galloway.

61 Samaritans of Glasgow

providing emotional support to those in the community who have feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

62 The Yellow Teapot Club

providing a club for children with special needs aged 6-16 years in West Lothian.

63 Youth United

campaigning and applying for funding for projects and facilities for young people in Airdrie.

South East

64 Bucks Search and Rescue

providing training, search and rescue and related emergency services for Buckinghamshire County Council and Thames Valley Police.

65 Caring All Together on Romney Marsh

supporting older and vulnerable people through friendship, support and advice.

66 Court Meadow Group Riding for the Disabled Association

providing riding as therapy for pupils aged 2-19 who have severe learning difficulties.

67 Golden Lion Children's Trust

supporting mentally and physically disabled and socially disadvantaged children in East Sussex.

68 Goring Gap News

reporting on local news, events and featuring items of interest through a monthly magazine.

69 Harmony Variety Group

organising after school clubs in Kent for children of all abilities and needs, encouraging talent and confidence, through performing arts.

70 Oakhaven Voluntary Services Group

supporting hospice staff by providing a service to members of the community suffering from life limiting illnesses.

71 Saturday Club for Deaf Children

providing activities for children aged 5-18 living on the Isle of Wight to develop their social skills, language and confidence.

72 Shepway Volunteer Centre Transport Service

transporting housebound, disabled and elderly residents to appointments and social activities, improving their quality of life

73 Starmaker Theatre Company

providing a centre for young people to develop and gain stage skills through workshops and fundraising events in Reading.

74 Surrey Witness Service

providing an independent, free and confidential service to victims and witnesses at court.

75 The Fountain Centre

caring for physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families in the St Luke's Cancer Centre in Guildford.

76 The Pitstop

a daytime drop-in centre for the homeless, unemployed and socially isolated in Leatherhead and surrounding communities.

77 Volunteer Bureau - Banbury and District

placing volunteers with local organisations and providing the elderly with transport for appointments.

South West

78 All Saints Church Community Centre

creating a centre for excellence for statutory voluntary groups, especially those which are marginalized.

79 Community Health Around Torpoint

providing a focal point for community concerns, resources and information, run by volunteers.

80 Disability Action Group in North Dorset

providing direct action to help disabled persons overcome everyday problems.

81 Friends and Residents of Grange Community Association

enhancing the lives of hospice residents in Christchurch and providing advice, social and recreational facilities.

82 FORGE

meeting the needs of visually impaired people in the Forest of Dean.

83 Kennet Gateway Club

providing a social meeting place in Pewsey for adults with learning difficulties.

84 MARAH

befriending and supporting homeless people and those with alcohol, drug and mental illness problems in Stroud.

85 South Gloucestershire Asian Project

improving the lives of Asian people through provision of services and a focus for events.

86 The Home Furniture Service Trust

supplying recycled furniture and household goods, offered at affordable prices, to low income residents in Taunton Deane.

87 The North Devon Maritime Museum

maintaining a museum for local residents and visitors to Appledore through fundraising and events.

88 The Vassall Centre Trust

providing accessible workspace for organisations of disabled people living in and around Bristol.

89 The Villager Community Bus Service

providing extensive, reliable and economical transport for residents of 65 villages in the North Cotswolds.

Wales

90 Cymrod CLWB Teithio Dwyfor Travel Club

providing a local community transport service for people unable to use public transport in Dwyfor.

91 Fernhill Association of Residents

representing the community in Mountain Ash and improving their quality of life and well-being.

92 Powys Challenge

reducing crime and the fear of crime, making Powys a safer place.

93 St Kentigern Hospice Volunteers

providing support to patients and families through friendship, transport assistance and community fund raising.

94 Special Needs Activity Club

providing a social club in Neath, Port Talbot for children with disabilities to include their siblings and support for parents.

95 Swffryd Community Centre

promoting the well-being of the community by furthering health, education and recreational activities.

96 Treborth Riding for the Disabled

providing disabled people with riding facilities to benefit their health and well-being.

West Midlands

97 Birmingham Chinese Society

assisting the integration of the Chinese and Oriental community into mainstream society.

98 Cheadle and District Home Link Scheme

assisting elderly and housebound people to maintain a dignified independence in their own homes.

99 No Panic

providing relief and rehabilitation for those with anxiety disorders in Shropshire through a confidential helpline and tele-conferencing.

100 Shades of Black Community Family Project

enhancing care in the community in Handsworth through social activities, including cultivation of an allotment for the benefit of senior citizens.

101 St Giles Hospice Volunteers

providing assistance with palliative care services and helping to improve the quality of patients' lives.

102 Tamworth Handicapped Swimming Club (The Unicorns)

providing recreational, teaching and competitive swimming opportunities for disabled people.

103 The Bradby Club

providing a safe meeting place for young people in Rugby with educational, social and cultural recreational opportunities.

Yorkshire and the Humber

104 Age Concern Knaresborough

providing care and support to disadvantaged and older people in the community.

105 Calderdale Help in Bereavement Service

providing a free and confidential befriending service for the bereaved.

106 Indian Muslim Welfare Society (IMWS)

providing a centre in Batley for interfaith events, helping to portray a positive image and address the needs of Muslims in British Society.

107 Pooh Bear Reading Assistance Society

providing trained volunteer support to build confidence and reading skills of local children through sharing and enjoying books.

108 Pudsey Gateway Club

offering social and leisure activities to people with learning difficulties.

109 St Wilfred's Day Centre

providing community care for vulnerable people in Sheffield who can experience a sense of belonging and find practical help.

110 The Carers' Resource

providing information, advice and support to carers in Harrogate, Craven and Airedale districts.