Pett volunteers given highest award for work with pensioners

A voluntary group for isolated pensioners in Pett has been honoured with a prestigious award for its outstanding work in the community, it was announced today (Thursday, June 2).
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jun 2016, 13:02 BST
Updated 2nd Jun 2016, 15:12 BST

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Pett Older People's Project (POPP) chairman Sheila Thomas and co-ordinator Ann Nicholls at the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of POPPPett Older People's Project (POPP) chairman Sheila Thomas and co-ordinator Ann Nicholls at the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of POPP
Pett Older People's Project (POPP) chairman Sheila Thomas and co-ordinator Ann Nicholls at the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of POPP

Pett Older People’s Project (POPP) was given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and met Her Majesty during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, May 19.

Community interest company De Etchingham was also honoured along with Friends of Sussex Hospices.

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POPP chairman Ann Nicholls and co-ordinator Sheila Thomas, who both helped establish the group, were invited to a garden party at the palace to mark the occasion.

Sheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's ProjectSheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's Project
Sheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's Project

Ann said the group is overjoyed and ecstatic to be awarded after being unsuccessful when they applied last year.

“The girls work long hours behind the scenes which many are unaware of and to have an official recognition of such standing is and was beyond our dreams,” she said.

“We hope we continue to live up to expectations for our local community.”

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POPP is weekly club ran by volunteers from the village, and is a hub for isolated, lonely people over 65-years-old, living in the surrounding area.

Sheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's ProjectSheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's Project
Sheila and Ann outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden party. Photo courtesy of Pett Older People's Project

The 13 volunteers host up to 45 senior citizens every Tuesday at Pett Village Hall, providing entertainment and lunch as well as a variety of helpful services including toenail cutting, hearing aid maintenance and more.

The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field will present the group with the award at its next meeting on Tuesday (June 7).

POPP is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

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The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups and is considered an equivalent of an MBE.

The award committee chairman, and former broadcast journalist, Sir Martyn Lewis congratulated all of the winners.

“The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups,” he said.

Civil society minister Rob Wilson added: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements.”

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Related topics:Queen's Award for Voluntary ServiceHer MajestyTwitter