King’s Awards for four groups supported by Near Neighbours

Four groups that have been supported by Near Neighbours have won a King’s Award for Voluntary Service this year for their work in their communities.

The Bradford-based Bangladeshi Youth Organisation, Leeds charity Give a Gift, the Chinese Community in Peterborough (CCIP), and a women’s group in Rochdale, Supporting Sisters, were among the organisations named this month. 

Near Neighbours helped the groups to develop by providing mentoring and grants.

A KAVS is equivalent to an MBE and is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK. It is awarded for life. The award was created in 2002 and was originally known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).

The Chinese Community in Peterborough (CCIP) received a Near Neighbours Community Covid Relief Grant in 2021. It enabled them to run weekly online English, Qi gong and Tai chi classes, increase their befriending service and deliver seven workshops in Chinese and English, including the Near Neighbours Covid Cash Recovery course and a digital skills course.

CCIP’s founder and leader, Faustina Yang, said: “Near Neighbours provided vital funding via the Covid relief fund at the most difficult time, to enable us to carry out the good work we do. On behalf of our community, I want to express our heartfelt thanks to you all.”