A Manchester charity are to be given a Member of the British Empire (MBE) award in recognition of their continued help to under privileged families and children.
Children’s charity Wood Street Mission, who donate over a hundred thousand pounds worth of items every year, will receive an engraved crystal trophy and a certificate signed by her Majesty the Queen.
The awards will be handed over by Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith and Vice Lord Lieutenant Mrs. Edith Conn at Gorton Monastery today.
The charity’s chief executive Roseanne Sweeney said: “We are delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which is recognition of the fantastic contribution of our volunteers.”
“Their commitment and hard work week in week out means we are able to distribute about a quarter of a million pounds worth of good quality donated goods to children and families in need every year.”
Based in the centre of Manchester, Wood Street Mission helps children and families living in the Manchester and Salford area, providing everyday essentials for poverty stricken people including clothes, bedding, books and toys.
The charity also promotes other opportunities including education, handing out free school uniforms and organising book clubs.
The award comes just a few weeks after the charity won a public vote which meant they became the charity of choice for the store White Stuff, and will receive a percentage of their annual profit.
They also received donations from former Corrie star Michelle Keegan’s Know Your Worth t-shirt range.
Keegan is not the only Corrie star to help out the charity in the past; Tina O’Brien helped launch the Little Coat-Big Coat project in 2012 which aimed to collect ‘pre-loved’ coats for the less fortunate during the cold winter months.
Charity volunteer coordinator and recipient of the award Des Lynch said: “Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds local businesses, schools, churches and community groups.”
“Some are former service users and what they have in common is a commitment to helping some of the most disadvantaged children in Manchester and Salford in a very tangible and direct way.”
Founded in 1869 by Alfred Alsop, the charity moved to Woods Street where it gets its name.
In 2013 it supported 7,000 children and 3,000 families, an increase of more than a fifth from the previous year.
Main image courtesy of Facebook, with thanks
Inset image courtesy of Peter Smithson, with thanks
