In 2017, we were delighted to be awarded the The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, (now The King’s Award for Voluntary Service), celebrating the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK. This is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups, being equivalent to the MBE.
Announced in the London Gazette, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) is a great honour and is recognition for the work done by Friends of Pittville since we began. All of our volunteers – Green Space, Pittville History Works, newsletter deliverers, committee members, helpers at events and others – have contributed towards our gaining this award, together with the support of our members over the years.
Friends of Pittville received their prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter, at a ceremony in Pittville Park on 29 July, 2017. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bernard Fisher, spoke on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council, who nominated the Friends of Pittville for the award, with whom we have worked closely for many years now.
Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk and local councillor Dennis Parsons were also present, along with the former mayor Councillor Chris Ryder. Judie Hodsdon, FoP Chairman at the time, accepted the award on behalf of the Friends and a number of individual volunteers were given official badges.
