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Marie Curie has received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award in recognition of the charity’s contribution to volunteering. The charity is one of 60 recipients of the award, which was announced in February 2012 to commemorate Her Majesty’s 60-year reign.
The award was open to any national organisation that involves volunteers, as well as organisations working with volunteers as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Marie Curie was nominated by volunteer Christina Parry, a retired civil servant, who coordinated the nomination with other volunteers who provided endorsement letters from across the UK.
Christina said: “This award recognises the innovative ways in which Marie Curie is using volunteers in improving its services for families facing end-of-life situations. Using volunteers sensitively has allowed the charity to expand its services and help more people at a critical time.
“Volunteers bring talent and skills which support patients and staff. Using volunteers imaginatively, and playing to their individual strengths, means everyone benefits, and the soaring numbers of potential volunteers shows that people are responding to this 'best in class' approach to volunteering.”
Director of Volunteering Ruth Bravery said: “I’m truly delighted that Marie Curie Cancer Care has won this award and that the Queen has recognised the charity’s involvement in volunteering as part of her Diamond Jubilee.
"I’m really grateful to the volunteers who took the time to nominate the charity for this award. The award is a tribute to all the staff who welcome volunteers into their teams, but most especially to all our wonderful volunteers – who play a myriad of roles across all areas of the charity and who make such a difference every day to patients and families across the UK.”
Around 9,000 people volunteer regularly for Marie Curie Cancer Care. A further 25,300 volunteers collect for the Great Daffodil Appeal in March.
Buckingham Palace will be holding a reception in spring 2013 as a celebration for those being given the award.
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