We’ve won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Stay Up late receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
We have just heard the incredible news that we have been recognised for our volunteering work by The Queen who has awarded us The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is just amazing news and wonderful recognition for all our volunteers do to help people with learning disabilities lead great social lives through our Gig Buddies project and our wider work.
Read the full press release below
Press release
Stay Up Late receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Stay Up Late, a charity based in Sussex, have just 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 the equivalent to an MBE.
The charity’s Gig Buddies and Sports Buddies projects enable socially isolated people with learning disabilities to go out to gigs, cultural events and get active with a volunteer who shares the same interests. The aim is to support people to be part of their community and make ongoing friendships.
“I love my volunteer, they’re a really good friend now” Dan
“I never dreamed I’d get to go to Glastonbury but I did” Sas
“We’ve been to some great gigs and the best bit is I don’t have anyone telling me what time I have to go to bed” Sam
“Being a Gig Buddy is a real privilege – I love going to see live music and now get to go out every month with a new friend who is also passionate about music and am part of a great and supportive community.” Nick – volunteer
Stay Up Late is one of 244 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us all of 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 by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. 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 this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: 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 and community hub based in South Wales, and a food bank in Greater London which also provides meals and training opportunities.
Representatives of Stay Up Late will receive the award crystal and certificate from Andrew Blackman Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from Stay Up Late will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023 along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Paul Richards, founder and Executive Director says: “I’m over the moon. This is wonderful recognition for all the amazing work of our volunteers who are making sure that people with learning disabilities are having great social lives and doing the things they really enjoy. It’s fantastic that our work has been recognised with such an award.”
Notes to editors
- Lord-Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
- This year there are 244 recipients of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service across the UK and Channel Islands.
- More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Full details on how to nominate are available at https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk/
- Nominations for the 2023 awards close on 15th September 2022.
