The Rutland Rotaract Family Support Centre (RRFSC), a local voluntary support organisation, has just won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.
The RRFSC is a voluntary support organisation that aims to provide social, recreational, educational and therapeutic support to children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (from birth to age 25), and their families. Based in Oakham, it is managed and operated entirely by volunteers.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the organisational equivalent of the MBE, is the highest award given to charitable organisations and dates back to 2002. Kate Pickering, one of the RRFSC committee members, shared the good news with Rutland and Stamford Sound.
“It’s absolutely incredible!” she says “I think we were all 100% taken aback by this recognition because we do what we do out of a passion to help local folk who have a child or young adult with a special educational need or disability.”
Coinciding with Volunteers’ Week, the Queen’s Award recognises that volunteers have been vital throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and will continue to be as the country emerges from lockdown.
We're holding a drop-in session for local people who are interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities with the community radio station serving Rutland, Stamford and the surrounding area. The drop-in event is being held in the theatre lounge at Stamford Corn Exchange from 5pm to 8pm on Wednesday 24 April.
The two campaign groups against the proposed development on the north side of Stamford are joining forces for what they say is one final push for people to comment. Neither Stamford North nor Quarry Farm have been approved for planning yet. The South Kesteven District Local Plan is also out for consultation following some revisions.