BOSP (Brighter Opportunities for Special People) receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The BOSP Charity, based in Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, is delighted to have 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.

For 30 years BOSP has been providing activity clubs, support and respite for families who have children with complex disabilities or life limiting illnesses.

BOSP is one of 244 charities out of the 170,383 operating in the UK today, 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 provided to communities by the voluntary sector. 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 in this special Jubilee year are wonderfully diverse. As well as crisis prevention support via BOSP, winning groups from across the UK, include: 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; a community hub based in South Wales and a food bank in Greater London feeding vulnerable individuals and providing training opportunities.

BOSP will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord- Lieutenant of Essex, later this summer. In addition, two representatives from BOSP 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.

Peter Davies, Chair says:

“How delighted I am that our group’s vital work has been recognised. This award is a formal thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers and supporters for their time and commitment, which makes what we do possible”.