Brain Tumour Support receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

adm1nNews

Brain Tumour Support, a charity headquartered in Thornbury that supports thousands of brain tumour patients and their families across the UK, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is considered the MBE for volunteer groups and is the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

CEO Tina Mitchell Skinner, who founded the charity 16 years ago after losing her husband to a brain tumour, summed up how proud the whole charity team feels: “We couldn’t do what we do without our amazing team of volunteers. They give up their time and skills so generously and with such commitment to help out in the office, at support groups and at fundraising events. We always knew that they were outstanding, but this is external recognition at the highest level. It really does indicate the huge contribution they make to enable us to support brain tumour patients and their families.”

Brain Tumour Support is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. As part of the recognition two representatives of the charity attended a Royal Garden Party in May. This honour went to two of the longest serving volunteers John Stuart and Kieran Widdowson. Later this summer representatives of Brain Tumour Support will receive the award officially from the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. Edward Gillespie OBE DL, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, will officially present the Award to the charity later this summer.

Sue Swift from Bristol is one of the charity’s many local volunteers. She said: “I started volunteering for Brain Tumour Support after the charity supported me and my family following my meningioma diagnosis. After several operations I am now partially sighted. Volunteering is uplifting and keeps me positive. I love raising awareness and sharing all the lessons I have learned on my brain tumour journey. I hope it makes a difference to others with brain tumours.”