The Sleep Charity has scooped a top accolade – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
We are thrilled to have been awarded this accolade which recognises our team. In order to achieve what we do, the charity relies on the support of volunteers throughout the country to carry out various roles.
The Sleep Charity is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
Representatives of The Sleep Charity will receive the award from The Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from The Sleep Charity will have the opportunity to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of the Queen’s Award.
Vicki Dawson, CEO of The Sleep Charity said “This award is known as the ‘MBE for the voluntary sector’ so it is an absolute honour to receive it. It is also incredible recognition of the huge amount of work that goes into making the charity successful year on year. As a small team we rely on our network of skilled volunteers who work tirelessly to offer sleep support and this is a huge tribute to everyone’s hard work and commitment, without which we would struggle to deliver services.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local 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.