The Queen honours local children’s hospice service with prestigious Award

June 13, 2011 - PRLog -- CHASE, who merged with The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in April, to become Shooting Star CHASE, has received the Award for its support from the 700 volunteers that have helped the charity since it began, in a variety of roles from care support to fundraising.
This highly valued honour also happens at a special time for the charity as Shooting Star CHASE is celebrating the 10th birthday of its children’s hospice, Christopher’s, later this year.
The charity’s volunteers’ were one of 130 winners selected from 413 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.
CHASE was recognised for its outstanding voluntary contributions from all volunteers doing everyday tasks to make every day count for so many courageous children, teenagers and their families and also particularly acknowledged were the special volunteer roles of:
•   Volunteer bereavement counsellors – Supporting parents and grandparents both before and after bereavement
•   Care support volunteers – Working alongside the care team, assisting directly with the care of children and supporting siblings
•   Volunteer complementary therapists – Providing much needed relaxation and comfort to parents and other families staying at Christopher’s
•   Youth volunteers – Enabling young people to volunteer in a supportive environment and gain an insight into how young people with life-limiting conditions maximise their short lives
•   Supporting volunteers with special needs – Providing a safe, secure and supportive volunteering environment for a group of people who can sometimes be marginalised
•   Fundraising volunteers – Supporting volunteers with their committed endeavours in fundraising from running marathons to taking part in overseas challenges and more
The charity will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Surrey, Lord Lieutenant Sarah Goad at a special ceremony at the Shooting Star CHASE, Guildford children’s hospice, Christopher’s, in July.
Four of the charity’s longest serving volunteers have also received an invitation to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.
Speaking of their success, Bridget Turner, Director of Care at Shooting Star CHASE said: “We are delighted to be the first children’s hospice service to receive this prestigious award. Our volunteers continue to amaze us with their commitment to supporting our vital care services and ensuring fundraising is sustained. We are also very proud of our role in developing, supporting and keeping our volunteers in specialist and long-term roles.  Our volunteers enable us to keep our promise to the children, teenagers and families we support, by helping us to offer the best care possible in the way families need it most.”
“We estimate that volunteers save Shooting Star CHASE over £400,000 every year, meaning this money can go back into frontline care services, caring for local children and teenagers with a life-limiting condition, and their families.’
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said: “Volunteer groups make such an important contribution to their communities, often without praise for the incredible job they do.  In these difficult times their efforts are even more valuable.  It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Christopher’s with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits they bring to others’ lives.”
More than 980 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now received this annual Award since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
To find out about volunteering vacancies at Shooting Star CHASE go to shootingstarchase.org.uk/volunteer or call 01483 230960.

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Shooting Star CHASE hospice care for children provides nursing, practical and emotional support to families with children who are not expected to reach their 19th birthday across South West London, Surrey and Sussex.