The Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd last week presented local volunteer group Student Volunteering Bangor (SVB) with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2012 at Bangor University.
The distinguishedl ceremony, hosted by His Honour Huw Morgan Daniel, saw the Bangor University’s Students’ Union group bestowed with an exclusive commemorative crystal alongside a certificate signed by Her Majesty, in recognition of their outstanding contribution.
Helen Munro, Student Volunteering Bangor University’s SVB said: “The volunteers are incredibly proud to have received this accolade which endorses the time they give and the sacrifices they sometimes make in order to enrich the lives of other, more vulnerable, people. Over 40 members of the current volunteering team attended the ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a unique occasion.”
The President of Bangor University Student’s Union said: “Over a thousand Bangor University students take part in SVB activities, with 250 volunteering on one or more of 17 community based projects. We are very proud of our volunteers, who currently contribute a total of 450 hours to the local community each week, and also of the organisational support at SVB, which enables the students to volunteer.”
The illustrious national honour of the Queen’s Award is the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded judged to be of the highest standard.
Bangor University Vice Chancellor Professor John Hughes said: “Our students make an active contribution to the community in which they live and study, promoting a close relationship between the University and the local community. The volunteering opportunities provided by the SVB enrich the students’ experience as well as that of surrounding communities. I know that our volunteering projects respond to local needs as well as reflecting student interests and concerns.”
The SVB group were one among 130 groups across the country and 3 in Wales to receive the honour in 2012.