Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Winners 2022

Twenty one Greater Manchester voluntary groups have been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Commonly known as the MBE for volunteer groups, it is the highest award a group can receive in the UK.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service logo

They are part of a group of 244 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive this prestigious award this year across the UK. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving. Greater Manchester has received the most awards of any County in the UK for the 5th year running, which shows how committed and full of innovative ideas our volunteers are, making life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. The Greater Manchester award winners are a wonderfully diverse group and will receive their award later in the Summer from The Lord-Lieutenant and 2 members of each group will attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2023.

The Lord-Lieutenant said, “This award recognises the contribution an organisation makes within its community. It is a rare honour. It is not won easily, and it recognises real achievement, effort, and a major contribution to the community. The last 2 years have highlighted just how valuable volunteering is to the country, with groups innovatively continuing their valuable work in the community, despite the restrictions and threat of the virus and I hope many more will be nominated in the future”.

Any group of three or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk Nominations for the 2023 awards close on 15th September 2022.

A list of Greater Manchester winners is here:

Bolton North East Wildlife Trail
Working to conserve and protect a local wildlife corridor and promoting a love of this area among local people.

Corrie Gardeners Community Group
Residents of a housing estate working together to make things better. Started 25 years ago as a gardening club, but now provides a food bank, drop-in cafe, organises social activities and community clean-ups.

Bolton Newstalk
Recording a free, weekly digest of local news in the Bolton area for local people who are visually impaired or disabled.

Lancashire Mining Museum
Transformed a closed colliery into a popular museum that explains and celebrates Lancashire’s mining heritage.

Rock It Bolton CIC
Enabling young people 11-18 to create, record and perform music in a supportive environment. Operates in an area of high deprivation.

Talking about my Generation
Trains up community reporters (aged 60+) to produce articles, podcasts and videos on topics they are passionate about, publishing these online and through national/regional media.

Bolton Carers Support
Empowering, engaging & empathising with Bolton’s unpaid carers over the age of 18 via a 24/7 helpline, short breaks, workshops, a newsletter and a befriending scheme.

MS Therapy Centre (NW)
Providing different forms of therapy such as oxygen, electromagnetic, physio and counselling to help pain management for sufferers with Multiple Sclerosis.

Think Ahead Stroke
Developing long-term programmes of support advice, information and training to stroke survivors, carers and their families.

Bolton Free Cakes for Kids
Creating, decorating and delivering cakes to young people facing adversity who would otherwise not have a birthday cake.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force
Inspiring young people and building resilience by teaching discipline, respect and essential skills through the cadets framework.

Soup Kitchen Rochdale
Providing free homemade meals, signposting to services across the community and distributing food parcels to vulnerable adults and families.

Azamrah Youth Club
Providing holiday activities for disadvantaged young people in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Bury2gether
Supporting children and young adults with special educational needs by creating a supportive network in Bury.

Connect Youth and Community Centre
Promoting well-being and reducing loneliness and isolation within inner city Salford for all ages. Provide events, a community garden and cafe, and telephone outreach.

Visit From The Stork CIC
Providing new mothers with practical and mental health support which they might not otherwise be able to access or afford.

Dimobi Children Disability Trust
A special needs, learning disability and autism provider tackling negative stereotypes of learning disability amongst the BAME communities of Newton Heath.

The Pelican Centre Ltd
Revitalising a local swimming baths, creating an accessible sports venue and encouraging people from different backgrounds, ethnic groups and demographics to get involved.

Rammy Men
A group supporting mental health through creating spaces, running activities and an accessible network. Currently writing a book to help reach a wider demographic.

The Attic Project (Bury)
Helping people at risk through debt and welfare advice, a weekly work club, digital skill course, social meets and healthy living classes.

The Shed (Tameside)
Supporting well-being in older residents throughout Tameside, through a range of activities that cover mental, physical and health issues.