RotherFed, based in Rotherham have just been awarded The Queen’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.
RotherFed support communities in the Rotherham Borough to grow and develop, working with them to build their sense of belonging, community pride and spirit. They work with and through grassroots community groups that are committed to bringing communities together, giving all communities a voice and creating local solutions to local issues. Their work helps create communities that work and develops new and existing community-led groups which:
- give everyone a voice
- make communities happier places to live and work
- help people to create local solutions to local issues
- work together to create shared solutions to local problems
RotherFed is one of 244 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 in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’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 The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: a rural support group for farmers in Shropshire; a community magazine addressing isolation in the Western Isles; a running club engaging all ages in County Tyrone; a film academy and community hub based in South Wales, and a food bank in Greater London feeding vulnerable individuals and providing training opportunities.
Representatives of RotherFed will receive the award crystal and certificate from Professor Dame Hilary Chapman DBE Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire later this summer.
In addition, two volunteers from RotherFed will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award. Phil Hayes CEO says “how delighted I am that our group’s work has been recognised, for what our volunteers have contributed to our communities over the last couple of years and beyond. I want to pay tribute to hard work and commitment of our incredible team.”
