SAFE@LAST Volunteers attend Queen's Garden Party

Volunteers from SAFE@LAST attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace last week as part of the celebrations after charity was awarded this years Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. 

The prestigious National Honour, which is equivalent to the MBE, sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, and the activities of those awarded have been judged of the highest standard.

SAFE@LAST has received the Award for its work with vulnerable young people from South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and North East Debyshire who are at risk through running away either from what they are running from or where they are running to. 

Four volunteers from the charity who had previously won SAFE@LAST’s Volunteer of the Year award enjoyed a day out in London visiting Buckingham Palace to celebrate the achievement.  Volunteers who attended were Sue Norton who supports the charity by working on the helpline as well as supporting fundraising events, Danielle Fitzpatrick who volunteers on the helpline and delivers preventative work in schools, Pam Forbes who volunteers in the SAFE@LAST office on a frequent basis providing admin support and Dane Howard who also works on the helpline.

Sue Norton said of the day “I thoroughly enjoyed the totally elegant experience of visiting the palace.  The whole event had a wonderful atmosphere and it was magical to be inside Buckingham Palace.  We didn’t have the opportunity to speak to the queen but she walked close by us and looked beautiful.  We were all proud to have been asked to represent SAFE@LAST and all the volunteers at the charity that this award recognises.”