Portrush Sea Cadets honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

The official presentation will take place in front of a packed auditorium of dedicated volunteers, dignitaries, distinguished guests and up-and-coming Sea Cadets this Thursday, April 11th at 7.00pm, in Portrush Town Hall.

As part of the United Kingdom honours system to recognise the work of grassroots organisations at a local level, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) was established in 2002. The Award, recognises and honours excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community, the QAVS is given in recognition of outstanding achievement by volunteers who offer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life for others, encouraging and giving opportunities to individuals or other groups in the community.

To further enhance this individual Award, a one-off category of the QAVS was granted by Her Majesty; The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012. The recipients reflect the diversity, optimism and excitement of the Diamond Jubilee year of celebration. The Award recognises well known voluntary groups which made a contribution throughout Her Majesty’s sixty-year reign, alongside newer organisations that engaged volunteers specifically to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games and build on the sporting legacy of London 2012. The National Registered Charity youth group of Sea Cadets was recognised with the one-off, Portrush Sea Cadets is included within The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 for its continuing contribution to volunteering.

Established 1942, TS Duke of York Portrush Sea Cadets continues at the forefront of work in the community, as well as assisting many people further afield. The Unit serves no less than five council areas - Coleraine, Ballymoney, Londonderry, Limavady and Moyle. It is the only Unit in the Sea Cadet Corps to have been awarded the The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

During its seventy years, Portrush Sea Cadets has built its success on the dedication and generosity of many extraordinary people, each of whom has devoted time and energy to the simple aim of making their communities, and their country – a better place.

The Chairman of TS Duke of York, Portrush Sea Cadets, Mr. AF Ian McCullough said, day-in and day out, volunteers make a valuable contribution to every aspect of our society – working with the elderly, supporting young people and reaching out to those in need. Volunteering is as fundamental to Sea Cadets as the water the cadets so enjoy and, the boats they train in – what better way to recognise the volunteers, than - with this wonderful Award from Her Majesty in her Diamond Jubilee year.

After the QAVS Presentation, there will be a lecture given by the world renowned motivational speaker and supporter of Portrush Sea Cadets; Colonel Edward L. Hubbard, US Air Force (Retired), the title - Achievement: - A State of Mind - the outline is the very up-to-date subject of volunteering.