Suffolk Charities Honored with King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Five charitable organizations in Suffolk have been recognized with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This accolade, considered the most prestigious for volunteer groups throughout the United Kingdom, was unveiled to commemorate King Charles’ birthday, observed annually on 14 November. Among the five county organizations acknowledged in the yearly awards was Let’s Talk Reading, an Ipswich-based literacy charity. Clair Pyper, a lead volunteer, expressed her “elated” reaction to the announcement. Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, she stated, “I think it’s a wonderful recognition of all the work we’ve done.” She further elaborated, “We set up about eight years ago and we’ve grown and grown since then.” Pyper added, “Our volunteers put a lot of time in and they really deserve that recognition that the King’s Award will give us.” The establishment of Let’s Talk Reading aimed to assist individuals across all age groups facing reading difficulties. Ms. Pyper recounted an example, stating, “A lady, who’s now completed the work she was doing [at the charity], never used to be able to do a shopping list.” She explained, “She used to buy the same food every week for her family because she had to recognise the packages.” Pyper highlighted the impact, saying, “Only now can she read what she’s buying and not make mistakes when she buys something different.” She concluded, “It’s opened up her world enormously in all sorts of ways.” Still Good Food, a charitable organization operating from Bury St Edmunds with a mission to reduce food waste, also received an award from King Charles for its philanthropic endeavors. Project director Roz Scott described her reaction to the news as “ecstatic.” She remarked, “The volunteers deserve this,” and added, “We do something that’s a little bit different.” Scott further commented, “I know one of the King’s passions is food waste, so to get this recognition is just phenomenal.” She concluded, “It’s a great platform for us to be able to shout about our work and I am ecstatic. It’s all thanks to the volunteers.” Other charitable groups acknowledged in the awards comprised Ipswich Outreach, an organization that supports homeless individuals via its soup kitchen and outreach bus. Ian Walters, the founder of the charity, expressed that being nominated was a “real honour,” adding, “With an army of over 150 volunteers, we’re so pleased that their work and efforts have been recognised.” Additionally, the Caribbean and African Community Health Support Forum received recognition for its contributions within Ipswich. Furthermore, the Tattingstone Good Neighbour Scheme was commended for providing assistance to villagers requiring help with their daily tasks. For further Suffolk news, information is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details regarding our approach to external linking are accessible.