The Harbour Project for Swindon Refugees and Asylum Seekers receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS).
This group based in Swindon have been honoured with a QAVS, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
HM The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton was delighted to learn that The Harbour Project had been awarded the prestigious QAVS.
Mrs Troughton stated: “I am so pleased when groups are recognised for the unique services they provide to their communities. The Harbour Project and their volunteers have done so much to ensure that Refugees and Asylum Seekers feel welcomed and supported in Swindon and the Award is justly deserved.
“My thanks go to the staff, the volunteers and of course the clients for their resilience, good humour and forbearance at this difficult time as we all deal with the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Cllr Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “This is fantastic news. Congratulations to the Harbour Project for this award. They play a vital role in Swindon and they are one of the Council’s key voluntary sector partners.
“I visited the Harbour Project at the end of last year. I met some of the staff and volunteers there and I saw for myself the amazing support they offer to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. I hope they are able to continue this for many years to come.”
Representatives of the Harbour Project will receive their QAVS crystal award from the Lord Lieutenant in the summer/autumn.