Director Cheryl Morris was proud to be invited to join other Buddy Bag Foundation volunteers in celebrating receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Handed out as part of the Platinum Jubliee Celebrations on June 2nd 2022, the award recognises all of the hard work of volunteers in supporting the Buddy Bag Foundation to help make a difference to children in emergency care.
On Saturday 17th September volunteers were invited to a special celebration to mark their achievement at the Harvest Fields Community Centre, in Sutton Coldfield.
Buddy Bag Foundation was set up by Karen Williams MBE in 2015 in response to the rising number of children who enter emergency care after fleeing violent situations at home.
The charity supply ‘buddy bags’ of essential items for childen fleeing to refuges and emergency care in order to help restore a sense of safety and security.
More than 48,000 children find themselves in emergency care every year and often have to leave all of their possessions behind as they leave at short notice in the middle of the night taking only the clothes they are wearing at the time.
Creative Word PR supported the charity when it was first launched offering voluntary media support to raise awareness of the charity and call for more volunteers and support. TV coverage and regional press saw volunteer numbers more than double with additional funding and donations to provide essential items, teddies, toys and special comforters for children.
Since the charity was started 7 years ago they have now raised just under £1million to support families, with 100% of the money raised going directly to the supply of Buddy Bags.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) was created in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and recognises the difference volunteers make across the UK.
Equivalent to an MBE, QAVS are the highest awards given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
More information on the Buddy Bag Foundation can be found at www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk
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