Queen’s Award for group working with prisoners
VOLUNTEERS inspiring prisoners to fully integrate into the community and reducing the likelihood of reoffending have been given the highest award available to a local volunteer group.
Creative Learning in Prison has been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups, it recognises outstanding work by such organisations to benefit their local communities.
The Lt-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, commended Clip, along with the local branch of the RNLI which also received the award.
‘I’m really delighted that two of our best charitable organisations feature in this year’s list of recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
‘They are both outstanding examples of the life-changing impact of volunteering.’
Clip and the local RNLI branch will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal, which Sir Ian will present.
The announcement was made today, tying in with the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation and Volunteers’ Week.
Speaking about the latter, Clip chairman Iain Stokes said that without volunteers the charity simply would not be able to do all that it does.
‘The advantage of Clip is that it has a very unique composition and, speaking personally, it has forced me to assess my own values in life and all the things I have taken for granted.
‘Our job is not to judge but to create an opportunity for prisoners to acquire new skills, begin their rehabilitation into the community and make a difference, and knowing you are doing that is a strong motivator for our volunteers.’
