Callon Volunteers Honoured at Queen’s Garden Party » Housing » 24dash.com

Its not every day that youre invited along to Buckingham Palace, but thats exactly what happened to volunteers from the Callon Kids Community Club (CKCC) last week who celebrated the groups Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

Four volunteers from CKCC were invited to the Garden Party where they mingled with the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. They received their official awards from the Queens representative, Lord Shuttleworth JP of Leck Hall, earlier this month.

Colin Makinson, Vice Chair for CKCC and Community Warden for Contour Homes, said: It was a day to be remembered, a once in a lifetime experience.

The Queens Award, which sets the benchmark for excellence in volunteering, is given to groups where volunteers are judged to have regularly devoted their time to providing an outstanding level of help to other people.

Since establishing the Callon Kids Community Club, there has been a significant turnaround in the estates fortunes. CKCC has played an important role in making what was once a no-go area into a thriving and vibrant community where young people can grow and develop in a safe and caring environment.

It was through my work with Contour Homes and living in the area which led me to help set up CKCC to tackle the different problems. The Club has overcome cynicism and mistrust to become one of the most successful organisations of its type, said Colin.

The young people of Callon have a genuinely positive outlook for their future. Thank you to all of our supporters, including Contour Homes, Groundwork and Preston City Council. And a huge thank you to Dr Alethea Melling MBE, from the University of Central Lancashire, who nominated CKCC.

Since receiving their award, Colin has given it pride of place in the Contour Homes Callon office as a sign of the areas great achievement.