St Vincent de Paul volunteers have today been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
SVP is an international charity and the largest voluntary charity in Ireland. In Northern Ireland, SVP members clock up 800,000 hours of volunteering every year. SVP is committed to promoting self-sufficiency and working diligently for social justice.
Mary Waide, SVP Regional President for the Northern Region, said: “The King’s Award for Voluntary Service belongs to each and every one of our volunteers as they are dedicated to providing assistance to families faced with impossible choices across the Region. With visitation at the core of the Society, our volunteers tirelessly reach into the heart of their local communities making a difference to those battling poverty and social exclusion irrespective of their background. I am so proud of our volunteers and would congratulate them on receiving this award. I would also encourage anyone who can spare even just an hour of their time to help others to please consider becoming a member of SVP.”
SVP is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.
Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social support network for disabled adults in Banffshire; a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in south Wales; volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality and social inclusion in County Antrim.
Representatives of SVP will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast. In addition, two volunteers from SVP will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2024, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
