Angus organisations nominated for the UK’s highest accolade available to volunteers groups have been honoured at reception in Forfar.
At an event in Angus Council’s Canmore Room hosted by the county’s Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Georgiana Osborne, representatives of DD8 Music and Lippen Care were congratulated on their nomination, and wished good luck for the awards announcement on the June 2 anniversary of The Queen’s coronation.
Comparing the awards to the Oscars, Mrs Osborne told the groups that receiving a nomination was a significant accolade in itself.
She said: “For over 11 years, DD8 Music has provided a safe environment for young people to make music and to learn the arts of recording, editing, and mixing while inspiring more than a dozen to go on to university or higher education to study musical production as a career.
“Starting from the smallest of beginnings – young people getting together to make music – DD8 has become a unique social, cultural and economic force in Kirriemuir, bridging generations and building international ties.
“The annual festival celebrating the late Kirriemuir-born AC/DC singer Bon Scott was started by DD8 in 2007 and last year attracted a weekend attendance of 4500 fans from 27 different countries and gave the local economy an enormous boost. “
The Lord Lieutenant added: “Lippen Care, for over 11 years, has provided palliative care to end of life patients at the Strathmore Hospice in Whitehills Hospital, Forfar.
“A large number of volunteers give freely of their time and talents to support individuals and families at a time in their life when they are most vulnerable.
“Volunteers man the shop in Whitehills Hospital, they organise a trolley service providing teas to patients and visitors and cover evening reception on Clova ward.
“Complementary therapists provide reike, relaxation and aromatherapy and the two hospice gardens are tended by volunteers.
“Six befrienders also provide valuable support to palliative patients at home. Relatives have 24 hour access and the hospice is open 365 days per year.”
Wishing the groups good luck in June, Mrs Osborne added: “The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities,
“It was created in 2002 to mark the occasion of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. “Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award. “Each group is assessed on the benefit it brings to the local community and its standing within that community.
“Since its inception, 21 groups in Angus have been nominated and ten have won the award.”
