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The Queen honours OYT South
Special bulletin 2nd June 2011
Ocean Youth Trust South wins The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Ocean Youth Trust South is delighted to be able to announce to our members, supporters, donors and friends that we have today become one of 130 winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others.
See here for details on the Award presentation.
This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.
OYT South has received the Award for using Adventure Under Sail to help young people to develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
Organisations receiving this year’s Award were selected from groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
Ocean Youth Trust South will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan DCVO, at a special ceremony.
We have also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
The charity now has the right to use The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service logo on our letterhead, documents and website.
In a press release, Mark Todd, Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South said: “We are thrilled to have received this prestigious honour for the work we do with young people in the local community. The award is a real tribute to the thousands of volunteers who have helped us since the charity was founded – not only those who take part in our voyages and support the young people who sail with us, but also those who nominate the young people or help to raise the funds to keep us going. We still have a few places available for young people to sail this year, and there is always a pressing need for donations to support our valuable work, or for sponsors for an exciting project to build a new, modern sail training vessel. Anyone who is interested in helping can see our website www.oytsouth.org or contact our office, 02392 602278, email office@oytsouth.org.”
For our members and supporters, Mark added: “This is fantastic recognition for the sheer hard work and dedication our volunteers have shown in delivering high quality, fun and safe sail training voyages. It is also a well-deserved accolade for those on shore, often in the background, whose support makes the charity’s work possible. Additionally, it is a tribute to all those who have been involved with the OYC /OYT over the years, as they set the standards for exceptional sail training voyages which led us to where we are today. May I personally thank all those who have been involved with us now and in the past for your efforts and enthusiasm.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said: “Volunteer groups make such an important contribution to their communities, often without praise for the incredible job they do. In these difficult times their efforts are even more valuable. It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Ocean Youth Trust South with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits they bring to others’ lives.”
Rear Admiral John Lang, President of UK Sail Training, added: “This is a fantastic recognition for sail training and the difference it can make to the lives of young people. OYT South is the first member of the Association of Sail Training Organisations to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service but there are volunteers throughout UK Sail Training who make an outstanding contribution to our efforts to give more young people the experience of a life-changing adventure.”
About the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
In 2002, in celebration of Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community was established. Its purpose is to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of this kind and is equivalent in status to the MBE. As such, the Queen’s Award not only serves to provide recognition of volunteer groups, but also demonstrates the high respect in which volunteering is held.
The Award is overseen by the Office for Civil Society (OCS). As part of the Cabinet Office, OCS works across government departments to provide support to voluntary and community organisations and is responsible for delivery of the Big Society programme.
Groups must be nominated for the Award – self nomination is not permitted. A group (two or more people) can be nominated if it is based in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The group has to have been volunteering for the benefit of people in the UK or overseas for at least three years and more than half its members must be volunteers who have the right of residence in the UK. Groups solely concerned with fundraising for charitable purposes are not eligible. Further details on entrance criteria and the nomination process are available here.
29th June 2011
Four representatives of OYT South attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in recognition of this award to the charity:
