A HOMELESS shelter in Worcester has been recognised for its outstanding voluntary service with a prestigious award from the Queen.
Maggs Day Centre, in Deansway, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation, the awards are given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.
Maggs Day Centre was founded in 1984 and helps to provide support, training and practical assistance to help homeless people to rebuild their lives.
Mel Kirk, manager of Maggs Day Centre, said: “It is such an honour to win this award, which is the equivalent of an MBE. For our volunteers to be recognised is phenomenal, the work they do is amazing.”
The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire will present the award on July 11 and the centre will hold a special garden party to celebrate.
“It has been quite a whirlwind, we were invited to a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace where we ate cucumber and mint sandwiches. It was such an honour to go to the party and we will be celebrating with our very own garden party. It is a great way to say thank-you to the volunteers,” she added.
Three other Worcestershire organisations have also been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, including Harvington Hall Volunteers, Alfrick and Lulsley Community Shop, and Kyre and Stoke Bliss Neighbourhood Lunch .
The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft LVO OBE, said: “I am delighted to be able to present this prestigious award on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, to four such worthy organisations.
“Volunteering is such an important part of our national and county life, it is not only essential to the success of many local charitable organisations, but it is also an excellent way of making new friends, learning new skills, as well as giving something back to the community. I am very much looking forward to meeting the volunteers and learning more about the important work they do when I present the Awards.”
