Three Rochdale charities recognised for voluntary work

(top l-r) Warren Smith, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Paul Griffiths, Vice Lord Lieutenant with the Chairman of the Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association Wayne Rostron (middle) and his wife Joyce

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association, Rochdale & Bury Bridleways Association and Recovery Republic were presented with Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service at a special ceremony at Gorton Monastery on Wednesday.

The groups each collected an engraved, commemorative crystal trophy and a certificate signed by Her Majesty the Queen presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Paul Griffiths DL.

The Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association supports veterans and their families by organising events and running weekly drop in advice sessions at Rochdale Town Hall. The Branch can offer all kinds of help including benefits, holidays, housing, teaching basic DIY or doing odd jobs for members.

The group also helps families research veterans past and replace medals lost or stolen. In times of sickness and bereavement, the group visit members who are in hospitals or at home. And, if called on by families, at the time of a funeral members will attend in beret blazer and standard bearers to give ex members a military style send off.

Chairman of the Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association, Wayne Rostron, who has been volunteering with the group for more than 24 years, said: “Our organisation was set up to bring together ex-members and serving members of Airborne forces, from across the ages back to the second world war, to help and support each other, and also to carry out charitable work in the local community and beyond.

“Our members are of all ages and from all walks of life and we offer comradeship and support to improve their health, welfare without judgement.

"My wife Joyce is the only female member of our Branch and we could not run the group without her.

"We were established in 1966 and the Branch is constantly growing and evolving.

It is really tremendous to receive this award and be recognised in this way.”

Rochdale & Bury Bridleways Association works to improve off-road riding facilities in the area in an attempt to reduce road traffic accidents involving horses.

The group of 84 volunteers, mainly women, ensure bridleways and byways are useable, seek upgrades and create new routes. Their work not only benefits riders but cyclists, walkers and wider members of the community.

The group fundraises and seeks grants to pay for contractors to repair bridleways and volunteers undertake work to clear routes of overgrown vegetation.

Irene Pope, chairwoman of the Rochdale, Bury Bridleway Association, who has been involved with the group for 28 years, said: “We have many long-serving dedicated volunteers who are willing to help anyone wishing to improve off-road riding in the area.

“It is really lovely to receive this award on behalf of all those special people. It is vitally important in this modern age to create more off-road routes for horses to use so that the ever-increasing incidents of road traffic accidents resulting in death and injury to rider, horse and driver are reduced. We will continue our work to ensure that riders, cyclists and walkers are kept safe away from traffic”.

Established in 2012, Recovery Republic offers activities for people suffering from mental illness and substance abuse and has helped more than 400 local residents in the last six months from its purpose-built centre in Heywood.

Carl Cruise, Recovery Republic centre manager, said: “We give individuals a hand-up rather than a hand-out. Recovery Republic has successfully taken recovery from mental illness and addiction onto the high street.

“The centre has been welcomed into the heart of the town and we have successfully removed misunderstandings and stigma. We offer a safe, supportive and deliberately non-judgemental environment which empowers the most vulnerable members of community to undertake their individual path to recovery.

"To be recognised by Her Majesty for our work is amazing and has given all the volunteers a real boost.”

Commenting on the Rochdale award winners, The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, said: “These three groups from Rochdale are very worthy recipients and set an excellent example for other members of their community to follow.

“Over the years we have met so many deserving groups who give their time freely for the benefit of others.

"The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a voluntary group. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

"We would encourage more groups in Rochdale to step forward and be recognised for the wonderful work they do.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen's coronation and is the equivalent of receiving an MBE.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the Queen’s Award. Each group must have been running for three years or more to be nominated and at least half must be comprised of volunteers.

The closing date for nominations for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2018 is 15 September 2017.

For information on how to nominate a group, visit: www.manchesterlieutenancy.org or www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service.