My Life is awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

We’re delighted to announce that My Life has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK, which recognises outstanding work done in their own communities.

Nominated by their fellow volunteers to receive the award at Buckingham Palace were Eileen Cuerden who has tirelessly supported the charity from its very early days and Malcolm Barnes who has long inspired My Life’s members through his watercolour painting classes.

Chief Executive Caroline Tomlinson explained why Eileen and Malcolm had been chosen:

“We wanted Eileen and Malcolm to attend the awards reception because they have dedicated so much of their retired life to help others. They are fine exemplars of our older population who have contributed so much of their own skills, gifts and time to help people in a way that makes sense for them, yet have done it for no reward, but simply to enable others to enjoy and give people meaningful opportunities. This encapsulates what My Life is about.”

My Life is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

Martin Ainscough CBE DL, who nominated the charity for the award said:

“I am delighted that My Life has been awarded a well-deserved Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Caroline and her superb colleagues and volunteers are helping literally hundreds of people with additional needs to be involved in a fantastic mixture of therapeutic activities. The energy the team put into this every day is witnessed by the sheer amount of events and activities they organise and Judith and I are delighted to have helped them on the journey so far and I am sure they will continue to thrive. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to all the team.”