Seven organisations across Wigan are honoured by Queen with 'MBE for voluntary groups'

Commonly known as the MBE for volunteer groups, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises the outstanding work done by volunteers to benefit their local communities

A total of 33 awards have been presented in Greater Manchester this year - more than any other county in the country - and several of those have been given to groups in Wigan.

The recipients are Breastfeeding Together, Garswood Hall Bowling and Community Club, True Colours CIC, Parbold Douglas Music Lancashire, Parbold Picture House, Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends for Cancer Research UK and Leigh Ornithological Society.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir Warren Smith, said: “This award recognises the contribution an organisation makes within its community. It is a rare honour. It is not won easily and it recognises real achievement, effort and a major contribution to the community.

“I am delighted for the groups across Greater Manchester which have received the award. Recent times have highlighted just how valuable volunteering is to the country and I hope many more will be nominated in the future.”

Peer support charity Breastfeeding Together has more than 60 volunteers supporting families across the borough.

They offer services to thousands of families through home visits, telephone and text support, drop-in groups, ante-natal workshops, live web chats and hospital support.

Funding for its breastfeeding peer support service will end in August, after Wigan Council announced a shake-up of services, so it is now looking for alternative funding to continue helping families.

Representatives from the charity will receive the award later this summer, while two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May next year.

Project manager Elinor Halliwell said: “I am delighted that Breastfeeding Together has received this award, it is an incredible recognition of the huge amount of work that has gone in to developing and delivering the wonderful services we provide for families across Wigan borough. I would like to thank all volunteers past and present. We are humbled by the nomination and extremely grateful to receive the award.”

The award is the latest honour for Garswood Hall Bowling and Community Club, which is enjoying a period of great success.

Set up in 1893, the club has reached out to the wider community in recent years with annual family fun days and Christmas events.

Its Bowl and Plate project has been a particular hit, with around 100 people packing into the club on Nicol Road, Ashton every Friday for a hot meal, social interaction through quizzes and games and light exercise in the form of crown green bowls.

The club won The Deal Community Programme Of The Year at the Believe Sports Awards in 2018 for the Bowl and Plate project, was runner-up in the community group category of the 2019 Wigan Our Stars awards and was shortlisted for three awards at the Club Mirror Awards in Doncaster.

It has also formed links with schools and had been planning to host a VE Day-inspired community fun day, before the coronavirus outbreak.

Club secretary Nick Shaw, a member for 25 years and secretary since 2015, said: “Our committee members are delighted and humbled to receive this award, which is the highest award any voluntary group in the UK can receive. It is testament to all the hard work of the club’s volunteers, members, staff and supporters in the wider community over a period of several years.

“The support of the community is something we are hugely grateful for and means a great deal to us. We look forward to welcoming people back to the club and continuing to support the community as soon as current restrictions allow.”

It was a double success for Parbold, as both Parbold Douglas Music Lancashire and Parbold Picture House received awards.

While they are both based at Parbold Village Hall and have helped to develop the venue’s activities, they are separate organisations.

Parbold Douglas Music Lancashire presents an annual concert series starring international musicians.

Its 23 volunteers have helped create the hall’s auditorium and, together with the local community, they raised enough money to buy a 2002 Steinway grand piano, originally at the Barbican Hall, London.

Concert-goers travel from across the North West for the events the volunteers organise.

The 21 volunteers of community cinema Parbold Picture House present fortnightly film evenings in the auditorium, as well as live transmissions.

They have created a studio cinema Studio Kino, which presents talking pictures with weekly matinée discussions, and screenings in the autumn and spring.

Clare Gillard, recorder for Parbold Picture House and treasurer of Parbold Douglas Music, and Michael Bonsall, chairman of Parbold Douglas Music and convener of the Picture House film crew, said: “We are very proud of our volunteers and the marvellous positive spirit and commitment with which they work, solve problems and co-ordinate their efforts. We think it is highly extraordinary for two awards to be made independently to groups working in the same venue.

“We have known for some time that our volunteers are exceptional people, from all walks of life, from sixth-former to octogenarian, some working, some retired, who love music or film and sharing their enthusiasm with others.

“Volunteers are always welcome and immediately feel at home in the comradeship that has been built up. The audiences are very appreciative of the positive contribution our volunteers make to their lives.”

Dedicated fund-raisers from Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends for Cancer Research UK have also been recognised.

The small group of volunteers host coffee mornings, sing-along hotpot suppers and an annual Big Gig to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Founder Carolyn Cross said: “I am absolutely delighted that my little group of volunteers have been recognised for the valuable work we do in the community and the commitment we have made by providing an amenity for all our supporters. It is an honour to be presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and a wonderful way to recognise the importance of volunteer groups like ours working in the community who help fulfil a need and reduce social isolation.”

Receiving the award was a special but poignant moment for volunteers from Leigh-based True Colours CIC.

The organisation provides daily support to adults with autism, learning disabilities and mental health with autistic traits to develop their skills, become more independent and lead a fulfilled life in their community.

Inclusive directors Marian Milling and Michelle Campbell said: “We are beyond thrilled to be recipients of this prestigious award in recognition of the hard work and time given by all of our volunteers. Our volunteers share their skills and interests with the people we support, giving vulnerable people the opportunity to have new experiences, learn new skills, build friendships and be part of their local community.

“Volunteering gives people the opportunity to experience alternative careers, gain work experience, be part of a team, attend training, building self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience, creating new friendships and combatting isolation. Our volunteers are integral to the service we provide and we are very fortunate to have such a committed and diversely skilled team.

“We lost our longest-standing, most dedicated volunteer Caroline Way to cancer earlier this year and would like to dedicate this award to her memory.”

Another recipient was Leigh Ornithological Society, which was founded in 1971 in response to landfill threatening locally important wildlife habitat.

From seven founder members, it has grown into a highly respected environmental group that has successfully helped reduce subsequent threats by conserving wildlife, collecting and publishing biological data and liaising with local, regional and national bodies.

The society now has several offshoots, including a volunteer group which dedicates time to maintenance projects around the 1971 landfill site - now Pennington Flash Country Park - and a young birders group which visits schools and clubs in a community education programme.

Volunteers make and erect bird nest boxes, create wildflower meadows and plant trees across and beyond Wigan borough. There are also open days, monthly indoor meetings and field trips.

Chairman David Shallcross said: “This is a wonderful achievement; it is a major honour to receive this prestigious award on behalf of the society and I am delighted that the group has been recognised in this way.

“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of the officers, committee, valued members and volunteers past and present, not forgetting the society’s founders of 1971 and pioneer naturalists before that time.”

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