Queen’s Award for city charities

Two Edinburgh-based charities were presented with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by Lord Lieutenant Frank Ross at a ceremony in the City Chambers on Thursday.

Established in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee and to recognise the outstanding contributions charities make to local communities, the Queen’s Awards are the highest public recognition afforded to groups of volunteers in the UK – equivalent to an MBE.

The first award was to It’s Good 2 Give!, a charity founded in 2010 to support young cancer patients and their families with practical support. Recognised for the incredible impact volunteers make to the lives of families in Edinburgh, the award follows the opening of the It’s Good 2 Give! Ripple Retreat in 2017, which offers a relaxing space for people to unwind, away from the everyday realities of living with cancer.

A further award was presented to PF Counselling Services. Known as the PF, the volunteer-led charity provides counselling to adults all over Edinburgh and is based in Morningside. They are recognised for enabling people to feel supported to make positive changes in the their lives to help them to grow and embrace life more fully.

A third award will be presented later this year to Kids Love Clothes, a volunteer-led group which upcycles clothing for young children experiencing crisis situations.

Congratulating the winners, Lord Lieutenant Frank Ross, said: “It is a great honour and privilege for me as the Queen’s representative in Edinburgh to personally present these awards.

“I’ve had the opportunity of visiting each charity and I was blown away by the passion of all of the volunteers and of the profound difference each project had made and continues to make to the lives of people in Edinburgh.

“I can think of no better way of recognising the incredible contribution these charities make than through the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service. It really is the highest honour a charity can receive and I am so proud it has been awarded to these Edinburgh-based groups.

“Each one is hugely deserving and as a city where 1 in 3 citizens regularly volunteer, I believe there are countless others out there who can join them. I hope to present many more awards like these so please, continue to share your nominations with me and help us celebrate their success.”