Write a commentThe Inland Waterways Association of Ireland Newry and Portadown Branch was one of almost 200 organisations awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service this year.
The group's volunteers aim to re-open the Newry to Portadown Canal as well as encouraging its use for recreation and enhancing its local environment.
Just a few weeks ago the organisation succeeded in raising the level of the canal between Poyntzpass and Terryhoogan by installing two sets of lock gates that they manufactured and installed themselves thus enabling canoes etc to use the facility.
187 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups will receive the prestigious award this year. The number of awards handed out to groups have increased by over 60% from 2014. This is due to an increase in high quality applications, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.
Commenting on the awards Former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE is the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair. He said “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups. The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the best of democracy in action.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
