LEDCOM receives Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

LEDCOM has been honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Voluntary directors and members of LEDCOM who received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.  INLT 23-650-CONVoluntary directors and members of LEDCOM who received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.  INLT 23-650-CON
Voluntary directors and members of LEDCOM who received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. INLT 23-650-CON

The Queen recognised the firm’s voluntary directors and members for more than 30 years of voluntary service, helping people in Northern Ireland find jobs during the most difficult period in its history.

Ken Nelson, chief executive of the company said: “LEDCOM is the first enterprise centre in Northern Ireland to receive the Queen’s Award. It is a great tribute to our directors, who are all volunteers and have given their time, experience and skills to help people find employment and train in new skills.”

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LEDCOM is one of Northern Ireland’s leading Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs) with an extensive track record in local economic development. Since its formation in 1985 it has provided over 10,000 mentoring/information/ advice/training sessions, helping over 900 new start-up business, supporting over 1500 jobs.

The Larne-based company is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the UK to receive the prestigious award this year.

The number of awards given to groups this year is higher than last year, 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.

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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.

LEDCOM will officially receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim, Joan Christie at a celebration event later in June.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said: “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.

“The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”

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The UK’s Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson added: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer.

“I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.”