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2nd June 2020
Posted by Johnny Jenkins
Children’s mental health charity Kids Inspire, based in Great Baddow and working across Essex, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Through bespoke therapy, mentoring and counselling Kids Inspire empowers children, young people and families to make positive change by supporting recovery from traumatic experiences or dealing with emerging mental health difficulties.
Kids Inspire is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
Sue Bell, Kids Inspire’s CEO and Clinical Director said:
“I am so delighted that our wonderful and loyal volunteers have been recognised by this most prestigious award. It is thanks to their dedication and commitment that we are able to reach even more families and children across the County today. Via community outreach programmes, such as Lunch Club, the Christmas Appeal and our professionally trained mentors, our volunteers contribute to making a positive and real difference to young lives daily.
“Thank you to everyone that was involved in making this decision, it really means a lot to be recognised. I am truly proud of the position that Kids Inspire holds within the local community, and even prouder of the committed volunteers that represent us in so many ways.”
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.
Representatives of Kids Inspire will receive the award from Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, later this year or when the present restriction are lifted. Furthermore two volunteers from Kids Inspire will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
In 2020, nine voluntary groups from across the county who work in the community have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This matches the record number of nine winners in 2019 and is the highest number awarded to any county.
Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst said:
“The announcement of nine winners of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest national award for voluntary groups, across Essex is a wonderful tribute to the outstanding work of the voluntary sector. The number of awards won across Essex speaks volumes for the excellence of volunteering in our county and the increasing importance of the work of volunteers for community wellbeing. Only two other counties across the UK had nine winners. I am delighted that nine extremely deserving groups, who are providing a wide range of services to our communities have been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen. I look forward to presenting the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services to each of the groups over the coming months, when the present restrictions are lifted, and to celebrate their success with their volunteers and many who receive their excellent service”.
Image: Sue Bell (middle) with volunteer Kids Inspire ambassadorsat the opening of Hargrave House, September 2019