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5 September 2017
Earlier this year, Bolton School received the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service. This award recognises best practice in volunteering work, and is equivalent to getting an MBE.
At a special ceremony held at Gorton Monastery, Sue Hincks, Headmistress of Bolton School Girls’ Division, and Michael Griffiths, Chair of Governors, collected an engraved, commemorative crystal trophy and a certificate signed by Her Majesty the Queen representing the Award. They were presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Paul Griffiths DL.
Students aged 15-19 along with members of staff and alumni support a range of organisations including local schools, hospices, hospitals, charities and community groups in and around Bolton as well as a lot of national and international voluntary work. Volunteering work has included supporting a local food bank and the ‘Shine’ programme, which gives children from local primary schools the opportunity to participate in Saturday morning sessions at the school.
Sue Hincks, Headmistress of the Girls’ Division at Bolton School, said: “Pupils of all ages are offered the opportunity to volunteer as part of their personal development and it helps us integrate with all levels of the community. Pupils not only offer a service but can share skills and gain an understanding and mutual respect from within the wider community as a result of these volunteering initiatives. We’re thrilled to receive the award and hope it helps inspire others to volunteer and give something back to the community too.”
Commenting on the volunteering programme for pupils at Bolton School, The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, said: “The school is a very worthy recipient and sets an excellent example for other schools in Greater Manchester to follow. The large scale of the volunteering achieved has been made possible through the imaginative use of pupil’s limited curricular and extra-curricular time in order to allow them to balance volunteering commitments alongside heavy academic commitments.
“Over the years we have met so many deserving groups who give their time freely for the benefit of others. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a voluntary group. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. We would encourage more organisations in Bolton to step forward and be recognised for the wonderful work they do.”
