02 Jun Essex social enterprise Grant a Smile honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services
A social enterprise in Essex that provides free housecleaning and emotional support for families living with serious or terminal illnesses has been honoured with the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Grant a Smile has been awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), which is like an ‘MBE’ for voluntary organisations.
The QAV award is given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise exceptional service within their communities. The recipients of the Award are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Joyce Obaseki, director of Grant a Smile, who lives in Loughton, Essex said: “This prestigious award means a lot to us and we are truly delighted and honoured to receive it. We don’t just clean homes, we provide practical support that strengthens and gives hope to families. The impact is outstanding, people feel less depressed, feel supported and this helps the emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing of parents and children. Our volunteers are our lifeline and we couldn’t have done this without them.”
Joyce attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this years Award.
Grant a Smile will receive the Award from Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, later this summer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.