Over 100 guests recently attended a prestigious charity event at which the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was presented to the Devon and Cornish Charity, CHICKS, at their charity retreat in Tywardreath, Cornwall. Amongst the guests were Branch Manager, Mike Rollason, who runs the firm’s Exeter Office and Coleman MD, Steve Risk.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award that can be given to local volunteer groups across the UK and is the equivalent of an MBE for charities.
Lord Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bolitho who presented the award said: ”I’m really impressed with how many people have come here today for the event. It shows just how much this charity means to people and the breadth of support they have.It’s a very difficult award to get and CHICKS is the only charity in Cornwall to have received the award this year which says a lot. I’m absolutely thrilled for them.”
Mike Rollason said, “CHICKS have been clients of Coleman for some 9 years and it was a real honour to be invited to be present at this special event. The charity is very deserving of the recognition that has been awarded to them. The work that they do is incredible and makes a real positive difference to the children that they support.”
Guests included supporters and volunteers from across the county and dignitaries such as the Chair of Cornwall Council, Councillor John Wood, and the Mayor of St Austell, Councillor Derek Collins.
CHICKS Chair of Trustees, Marion Luckhurst said: ”I’m immensely proud that CHICKS has received this award. It means a huge amount to the charity and everyone involved. It is wonderful recognition for the charity and it’s been a fantastic event – I’m delighted so many people came.”
CHICKS is a children’s charity that provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children from across the UK, including manyfrom Somerset, Devon & Cornwall. Since its inception in 1992, CHICKS has helped over 12,000 disadvantaged children.
The children CHICKS care come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have been abused, live in poverty, or have been neglected. Others live in care or are themselves young carers, often bearing the extraordinary responsibility of caring for disabled or terminally ill relatives. What they have in common is the desperate need to create some positive childhood memories, to be listened to, and to have the kind of fun that all children deserve.
At CHICKS children can run free and be completely safe. Each child receives the support, attention and encouragement of three fully trained CHICKS staff on each break plus up to six, fully vetted, adult volunteers. With such a high adult to child ratio the children are made to feel cared for and valued.
Kate Shaw
