Robinson congratulates Queen's Award recipients

First Minister Peter D. Robinson MLA has congratulated four local community groups who have received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Award recognises outstanding achievement by groups who volunteer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life and opportunity for individuals or other groups in the community.

Mr Robinson said: “The Queens Award is recognition of the selflessness of the many hundreds of volunteers working in communities throughout Northern Ireland. I would also like to express my thanks to those who give up their own time to put tremendous efforts in to making their communities better places to live.”

The four successful Northern Ireland Groups are:

• Strabane Community Project, Strabane
• Greenlight Gateway, Ballycastle
• Learmount Community Development Group, Londonderry
• The Inniskillings Museum Volunteers, Enniskillen

The groups from Northern Ireland were amongst 103 groups from across the voluntary and community sectors in the UK to receive the award this year. The award was announced by The Queen on 30 April 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Notes to editors:

1. The Award was announced in April 2002 and was originally titled, “The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award”. It is given in recognition of outstanding achievement by groups of two or more people in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man who volunteer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life and opportunity for individuals or other groups in the community.

2. A successful group will be able to demonstrate that it:

• has evolved locally and is locally run;
• has a proven track record of active involvement in the community, normally over a period of three years or more, for the social, economic or environmental well being of local individuals or groups;
• is well designed to meet a particular need;
• has added significant value by directly providing community-focused voluntary activities of a very high quality; and
• has generated a high level of goodwill and respect amongst those it serves and the community as a whole.

3. Further details of the Award and nomination forms can be obtained by visiting the Award website, emailing Queens Award or phoning The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Office’s information line on 020 7781 2397. Anyone wishing to encourage nominations of local groups can obtain information packs by ringing 020 7781 2397

4. Media enquiries to OFMDFM Press Office on 028 9052 1905. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.