Local Youth Charity wins prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2017
The Door Youth Project, which has been serving the young people of Stroud (Gloucestershire) for the last 26 years, has today received the highest accolade awarded to the voluntary sector. Equivalent to an MBE, the award recognises the outstanding work undertaken by volunteers in their community, and was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen’s coronation.
To celebrate the award members of The Door team attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace hosted by Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The award will be presented to The Door by local Lord Lieutenant, Dame Janet Trotter later this year
Dame Janet Trotter: “”Congratulations! This is a complex award to achieve and represents a great deal of hard work on the part of volunteers.”
“Service to the community is so important in society today and it is evident that you achieve a great deal with and for your clients”
The Door is open so that all young people, their parents, carers and families can feel safe, happy and valued with the best chance of reaching their potential. The project provides a wide range of support to young people between the ages of 11 and 25 and their families in the Stroud District. This support comes in the form of youth clubs, 1:1 mentoring, support groups, parenting courses and whole family intervention plus help with returning to education and finding employment.
The Door employs a professional team of trained youthworkers and family support staff working at 6 centres across the district. However the charity relies on the extraordinary work of over 50 volunteers who give up their free time to undergo training, and go on to offer regular support to their mentees or in the youth centres. Committed volunteers also take on the roles of trustee, assist in The Door charity shop, take part in street collections and hold fundraising events for the charity.
Chair of trustees, Sean Corbett says, “I am so proud and excited that our wonderful volunteers have been recognised with this award. Without these dedicated individuals The Door would not be able to change the lives of so many young people and families. I wish to commend the passion and dedication that each volunteer brings to The Door and lift up a heartfelt ‘thank you’ and congratulations to this extended Door family for achieving this prestigious award.”
Nominations for the award came from team members at Gloucestershire Young Carers and the Children and Young People Service (CYPS) who said:
Andrea Hannis, Gloucestershire Young Carers: “The Door’s support has helped families overcome personal crisis or survive in the face of adversity, where no other help was available.” “The mentoring programme offered by The Door not only empowers young people in their lives, but provides them with an opportunity to have perhaps their first positive relationship with another adult. The support from volunteers at The Door has transformed many families’ lives”
Fidelma Dowling, CYPS: “The work that The Door does for so many young people with difficulties is outstanding and fills a very significant gap in services for this very vulnerable population. The Door is highly valued and respected by the team I work in, and it is in fact often the first place that we think of when considering the best options for the young people from this area. The feedback we receive is so positive; we wonder how we would manage without this service. “
All services at The Door are provided free of charge to families. And referrals are received by The Door from health professionals, local authorities, schools and other concerned agencies such as Gloucestershire Young Carers and CYPS.
In order to maintain their services, The Door relies on generous donations from individuals, businesses, organisations and grant making trusts to meet their running costs of £1000 per day.
If you would like to support The Door and join their award-winning team of volunteers please get in touch with Lizzie on 01453 756745, info@thedoor.org.uk or come along to the next awareness evening for volunteers, Thursday 22nd June 7pm – 9pm.
Press Enquiries please contact Anne Townsend or Lizzie Hewlett – 01453 756745
