Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

On June 2nd it was announced that Disability Awareness Day (DAD), Europe's largest voluntary led disability awareness event, has secured The Queen's Award for Voluntary Services, the 'Unsung Heroes', for 2006. This prestigious annual Award was created in 2002 to mark the occasion of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and local charity Warrington Disability Partnership, organisers of DAD, faced competition from hundreds of other entries to win it this year.

All of the Queen's Award winners have been nominated by members of the public who have either benefited from their work, or seen the positive effect on their community. The Award is only given to those groups where volunteers are judged to have regularly devoted their time to providing an outstanding level of help to other people.

DAD promotes information about services, facilities, equipment and the ethos of independence for disabled people, their carers and families.15 years ago a small group of disabled people never imagined that the exhibition they were organising would become an annual event nor that it would attract over 25,000 visitors each year and lead to similar events across the UK, Europe and USA.

This years event will involve hundreds of volunteers, many individuals, others members of disability support groups, Lions Clubs, Air Training Cadets, staff from local NHS Trusts and Local Authority and staff and young offenders from the local Thorn Cross YOI. From administration to management, from stewarding car parking to litter pickers, to event safety to first aid they are collectively know as 'DAD's Army'.

Dave Thompson MBE, DAD Event Co-ordinator said, "This prestigious award is in recognition to the hundreds of people, past and present, who have volunteered their support in making a vision into a reality. Some of our volunteers arrive on the day, others are involved on a daily basis dealing with the administration and co-ordination, and a small team take a week's annual leave to help setup the exhibition ground. We all have something in common; we do it because we know it helps to make a difference".

For further information visit http://www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/index.html