The Garden of Reflection, Pump Street, Derry~Londonderry was the venue on Friday 14th September 2018, for the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVs) ceremony recognising the significant contribution of one of the city’s local voluntary groups.
The Churches Trust has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for voluntary groups in the UK, in recognition of their significant voluntary activities within the city and the wider North West community.
The Churches Trust were one of four local organisations from Derry~Londonderry recognised in 2018 QAVS Awards, the others being Britannia Concert Band, Foyle Child Contact Centre and Caw and Nelson Drive Action Group.
The Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Londonderry, Dr Angela Garvey, was joined by a number of Church Leaders in what was a significant celebration of the contribution by this group to all sections of society within the city and the wider community.
In welcoming the Lord Lieutenant, Church Leaders, recipients and guests Martin Agnew Chair of Churches Trust expressed his delight at receiving this prestigious award in recognition of the work of the Churches Trust and its volunteers. The Churches Trust was established by the leaders of the Methodist, /Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Churches in Derry~Londonderry over 30 years in response to a recognition of the level of deprivation in the area and the necessity to work together to provide essential services to those in need.
Prior to presenting the Awards the Lord Lieutenant Dr Garvey commended the Award winners for their outstanding contribution to volunteering within the City and recognised that for the City to receive four awards out of the total of 250 awards presented nationally was a significant testament to the work of these groups in support of all sections of society. She expressed her gratitude to the many organisations involved in volunteering throughout the City and looked forward to further QAVS nominations in years to come.
In congratulating the award recipients the Chief Executive, Fiona Fagan, also recognised the outstanding work the Churches Trust undertook in the provision of much needed voluntary services for those in need within the city and the wider community.
In responding to the award, Martin Agnew Chair of the Churches Trust added that it was a great honour for the Churches Trust to receive this significant national recognition for which he and all volunteers within Churches Trust are greatly humbled. The chair went on to say “we are extremely proud and honoured to have been recognised for this very significant national award, which would not have been possible without the commitment, energy and support of all our volunteers.
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Investors in People
Churches Trust, based in Derry/Londonderry was among 34 organisations celebrating Investors in People (IIP) accreditation at a presentation ceremony held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on 26 June. Pictured with Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry and Head of Investors in People Paul Devoy, are representatives from The Churches Trust
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry, special guest at the event, speaking before the presentation of awards said: “This is a very special occasion as it celebrates Northern Ireland’s businesses going above and beyond excellence, through Investors in People. Obviously it is satisfying to receive your IIP accreditation, but the real cause for celebration is the improvements in your organisations brought about as a result of hard work and commitment in effectively managing and developing your most important asset – people. Those organisations achieving IIP accreditation have demonstrated a clear commitment to continuing to invest in their people - and are indeed seeing the business benefits of doing so.”
Since 1991 Investors in People has set the standard for better people management. The standard defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people well. Successful accreditation against the Investors in People standard is the sign of a great employer who understands that it is people that make the difference.
Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “Achieving the Investors in People standard is something that any organisation should be truly proud of. Working with Investors in People inspires and enables leaders, managers and employees at all levels to build their skills, improve their performance and achieve their potential. We’d like to congratulate all the organisations here in Northern Ireland on their achievement.”
Based on a tried and tested methodology of leading practice and a rigorous process
of assessment, organisations that achieve Investors in People, like those who celebrated on 26 June, proudly display their accreditation to the world.
