Teen Talk Harwich hailed with special Queen’s Award

Teen Talk Harwich - an organisation providing information, support and activities to youngsters across Tendring - has been presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity has been providing services in the district for the past two decades with volunteering opportunities for both young people and adults.

In the past year Teen Talk’s young people achieved more than 1,000 hours of voluntary activity through environmental projects, fundraising and awareness raising campaigns.

Teen Talk’s chief executive officer Hayley Lovett said: “We are delighted to see Teen Talk recognised for its commitment to volunteering.

“Many of our community projects over the years would have been impossible to achieve without the dedication and enthusiasm of both our youth and adult volunteers. We are immensely proud of everything our volunteers have achieved and feel they are truly deserving of this award.”

Teen Talk representatives attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Teen Talk is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002 in response to the expanding voluntary sector working to make life better for those around them.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

Winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Winners include volunteers helping people overcome mental health problems through sport, volunteers using caravans as mobile cafe/information centres in geographically remote locations and another group mentoring children who have a parent in prison.

Representatives of Teen Talk will receive the award from Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex later this summer.