6 Jun 2010 - The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), Cornwall, has been announced as one of 103 UK volunteering groups to win this year’s The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.
The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.
NCI Cornwall has received the Award for helping to save lives at sea and along the Cornish coastline. Accidents do happen and there is no substitute for a watchful pair of eyes in spotting a distress flare, an overturned boat, a yachtsman with engine failure or an injured cliff path walker. NCI volunteers are trained to spot, plot and report on just such eventualities. There are over 500 watchkeepers and trainees manning the thirteen stations operated by NCI in Cornwall. The numbers continue to grow as volunteers from all backgrounds appreciate the part they are able to play in helping to ensure the safety of our coastline at no cost to the public.
Winners of this year’s Award were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
NCI Cornwall will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Cornwall, Lady Mary Holborow J.P. at a special ceremony. The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
Speaking of their success, Jon Gifford, Chairman of NCI said:
“With the opening of our first lookout at Bass Point on the Lizard in 1994, NCI was born. Since then, thirteen stations have been established in Cornwall, all supported by highly dedicated communities with whom I am extremely proud to be associated. NCI Cornwall is a centre of excellence and I congratulate our volunteers and supporters who have all played a part in the achievement of this highly prestigious award”.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said:
“Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together. It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of NCI Cornwall with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others.”
More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The photo below is of Richard Hews (Trustee), Jim Hay, Paul Smith (headmaster of Truro School, who nominated NCI Cornwall for the award), Richard Walker and Peter Clements, who received the nomination from Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.
For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice, where a nomination form can be downloaded.