Viva Arts & Community Group from Soham has been announced as one of 103 UK volunteering groups to win this year's The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups. The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.
Viva Arts & Community Group has received the Award for its extensive arts and community work with people of all ages in and around Cambridgeshire including running Viva Youth Theatre, Viva Theatre Company, The Viva Centre, The Viva Charity Shop, Viva Mini, Viva Integr8, The Viva Fringe Festival Project and many other community projects. Winners of this year's Award were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group's work in their community. Viva will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Cambridgeshire, the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Mr Hugh Duberly CBE at a special ceremony.
Speaking of their success, Viva's Artistic and Managing Director Dan Schumann who also founded Viva in 1997 said: "We are thrilled to have received this pretigious honour for the work we do in the local community. This is a wonderful tribute to all of the people who work so hard for Viva and all our members and supporters - Viva is a very special and unique charity and are very proud of our work and reputation. This award is wonderful boost for us all".
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said, "Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together. It's a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of Viva Arts & Community Group with The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others."
More than 850 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now won The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. For details of all this year's Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice, where a nomination form can be downloaded.
