Statement from Michael Hewitt on our Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service presentation to volunteers

“It was a great honour to be present at Preston County Hall when New Neighbours Together were presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by the Vice Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Christine Kirk DL.

The afternoon was made up of presentations to the six winners of the Award from different areas of Lancashire, including two from Oswaldtwistle. Present were many dignitaries including the Mayor of Burnley and her escort.

Mr Terry Hephrun DL, Chairman of the Lancashire Panel for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service opened the proceedings with a short resume of each of the winners, before inviting each organisation to come forward for the presentation.

The spokesperson from each of the groups then spoke about their organisation, our CEO Ruth Haygarth gave a short speech before being invited to tell the assembled the poem that she had created for the occasion.

After the awards ceremony, it was gratifying to see how many of the assembly approached us to offer their individual congratulations for the work we do. The Mayor, and particularly her deputy spent time discussing our work and what it meant to Burnley.

For a small Charity like ours it was enough that we had been nominated, so to win the award was unbelievable. I feel it shows what can be achieved by a small group of dedicated, compassionate people and an excellent leader.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I would like to put on record how proud I am of every one of them. I would also like to acknowledge many of our clients who regularly volunteer at the centre, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Michael Hewitt
Chair of Board of Trustees

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