Playbusters Gets the Royal Seal of Approval

 

It was cheers all round from volunteers at Glasgow�s East End based charity, Playbusters, as they received an announcement that they had been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The Queens Award is the voluntary sector equivalent of an MBE. It is awarded annually to voluntary groups to recognise and reward their outstanding achievement in helping others in the community. This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.

Playbusters and its team of volunteers are working towards creating an East End of Glasgow where people of all ages can realise their potential and make a difference to their community.
They are well known for their hard work in the local area, most recently when they set about clearing the snow from pavements.  During this particularly severe winter Playbusters worked with Urban Fox and Parkhead Housing Association to help local residents by clearing snow from paths, going shopping and picking up prescriptions. At the time one local resident called them the “Angels in Wellies”.
Project Manager Margaret Layden said: “This Queen's Award is a fantastic achievement and credit should go to everyone in Glasgow’s East End who have come together to make all the Playbusters projects such a success. Without their dedication and focus there would be no award. It is that simple.”
Playbusters were 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.
The group will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Scotland.  
Playbusters has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the summer.
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.”
Around 80 Playbusters volunteers, ranging in age from 11 to 90, work on a wide range of activities from a community allotment and cleaning up littered areas to running intergenerational health projects bringing people of all ages together.
One young Playbusters volunteer, Chelsea O’Neill, 13, Young Volunteer and Evening Times Community Champion Finalist said: “I have grown up a lot thanks to Playbusters. Before I came I was immature. If something happens they’ll help you so you feel like you are all together.”
Andy Forrester, Playbusters’ volunteer and Evening Times Community Champion Finalist says “Volunteering has certainly been worthwhile for me. I’m a lot fitter and a lot happier with getting out and mixing with the youngsters.”
Mary Layden, another Playbusters elderly volunteer enjoyed working with children but had been surprised by some of their questions. She said: “Some of the children at the school asked if I was on the Titanic!”
Alan Sherry, Acting Principal of John Wheatley College, said,
"This is a great and well-deserved accolade for Playbusters. The College has been fortunate to have worked closely with them on a number of highly successful partnership projects and this award is welcome recognition of their many achievements over the years.

"Playbusters’ creativity and hard work has certainly brought benefits to the East Glasgow community and our congratulations and best wishes go to Margaret Layden and her entire team."

Ends

For more information contact
Clare Bennett, Volunteer Training Coordinator, clare@playbusters.org.uk
Margaret Layden, Project Manager, margaret@playbusters.org.uk
Playbusters Ltd, 1345-1351 Gallowgate, Parkhead, Glasgow G31 4DN
0141 5510071
www.playbusters.org.uk
www.facebook.com/playbusters

Notes to editors

1. The volunteers help in developing Playbusters many projects such as Easy Spanish, Intergenerational work, youth activities, environmental programmes and

 

 

 

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