Queen awards Dorset charity for work with homeless
An email blunder almost meant they missed out though!
Last updated 3rd Jun 2022
The Queen has recognised the work of a homeless charity in Weymouth with the equivalent of an MBE.
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the most prestigious award a local voluntary group in the UK can receive, and it's been given to the Bus Shelter Dorset.
The award was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
But an e-mail blunder meant the charity almost missed out on receiving the award. Emily McCarron is the co-founder of the charity. She said:
"We used to have an old e-mail address which we don't use any more, we never go on it and somebody else was trying to get hold of some information and I thought 'I'll just have a look on that old e-mail address' which I haven't been on in probably around two years.
"There was this e-mail saying 'The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service' and I had two days to reply to it otherwise we wouldn't have been awarded it.
"I was just so shocked, so pleased, it's amazing. Just so proud and excited for being awarded such a prestigious award."
The Bus Shelter Dorset launched in December 2016 and has always relied on volunteers to keep itself operational. Originally, the service offered rough sleepers a bed on a communal bus. But during the pandemic, they were forced to find other accommodation to stop the spread of coronavirus. They finally settled with a group of purpose-built portable homes at Weymouth Park and Ride.
Volunteers are a vital part of the Bus Shelter Dorset family. They devote their time, skills and energy to helping those locally sleeping rough, or about to sleep rough, on their journey through The Bus Shelter Dorset services. The Bus Shelter journey starts at the charity’s new site which comprises 12 self-contained units of accommodation, a large communal kitchen, dining and lounge area. All guests contribute to the evening meal which is enjoyed together with staff and volunteers in the dining area and activities such as boxing, allotment, walks, cooking, animal therapy, training courses and employability skills are available to all guests and previous guests under their ‘Next Stop’ service to offer a meaningful use of time and improve skills and confidence.
Emily said:
“We are truly grateful for the support from our wonderful volunteers past, present and future. Plus all those who make Bus Shelter Dorset a success, including our staff, partners, funding from Dorset Council, local businesses and individuals. Without them, we simply could not provide our wide range of services for those affected by homelessness.”
We can all make a difference to help those in our local community who need help. Supplies, specialist skills or donations, however small, are always welcome”.
The Bus Shelter Dorset is one of 244 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.