Queens Award for Voluntary Service

Cre8 is incredibly pleased and proud to announce that we have received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. As the Award themselves say, it’s the MBE for grass-roots volunteer groups. What an honour and well-deserved recognition for all our hardworking, committed, passionate and dedicated volunteers – who come in all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and abilities – but who all share the same thing – a passion for enabling young people to become everything they can be.

Rob Wardle, Director, said “I cannot express how pleased I am for the volunteers, young people, families and workers who have put so much of themselves into this project over the last 10 years. They have been a huge blessing to each other and to our God who looks over them. They all very much deserve it. It is encouragement and recognition for commitment to others, as the Queens Award themselves say 'the equivalent of an MBE for a grass-roots charity'. Much more again to celebrate at the Cre8 Festival.”

Cre8 is a local charity which has been doing work and providing services for young people in Macclesfield for the last ten years. From very small beginnings, Cre8 has grown to be a significant part of the neighbourhood. We provide an innovative service to young people and their families which we hope supports and enables people to play a full and active role in their neighbourhood.

In addition to being a provider of services, Cre8 is also a community with a spiritual dimension. Many of our workers and volunteers are involved in local churches in some way. Some also live and are part of the neighbourhood we work in, which we think is very important. We look to model community living, this sometimes includes attending and being part of Christian celebrations and other regular social activities such as ceilidh’s, shared meals and festivals. These events are open to a wide network of our friends, supporters and neighbours.

Rob, goes on “It is just hugely encouraging for all of us involved with Cre8 to receive this award. A lot of our work is with young people which can be exciting and fun, as well as disappointing and very draining at times. Volunteers and workers at Cre8 experience lots of ups and downs with what we’re trying to do, but when we take time to step back and look at our achievements, then it makes us smile. The timing of receiving this Award is brilliant for us, not least because we have a Cre8 Festival coming up between the 13th and 19th of June where we will be celebrating young people’s achievements.  If you want to know more about what we do, why and how we do it then come along to something at the Festival www.cre8festival.org.”

Cre8 is one of 187 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of awards handed out to groups have increased by over 60% from 2014, due to an increase in high quality applications, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.

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.

Cre8 will receive the award from David Briggs M.B.E., K.St.J the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire later in the summer.