Holford drive Community Sports Hub wins Queen’s Award

Holford drive Community Sports Hub in Birmingham recognised with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for 2016

A voluntary group from Birmingham manages the Sports Hub for the community by the community has been honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The groundbreaking sports hub has enhanced the community by developing individuals using sport as the medium and regular attracts 600/800 young people a week. The Holford Drive Sports hub in Perry Barr is a major state-of-the-art leisure centre run by the four clubs for four core sports; Aston Boxing Club, Holford Drive Tennis Club, Continental Star Football Club and Continental Cricket Club for the community by the community.

Lincoln Moses MBE, Keith John and Diane Sawyers Trustees from Holford drive Community Sports Hub attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on 19th May 2016 where they met the Queen and other winners of this year's award.

Holford drive Community Sports Hub is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of awards given to groups this year is slightly higher than last year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.

Holford drive Community Sports Hub will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of
Birmingham later this summer.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist
Sir Martyn Lewis said:

“I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year's awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.
The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said:

“I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer. I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a morecompassionate society.”

Lincoln Moses MBE Chairman HDCSH, said:

"I am not by nature an excitable person. On the contrary, life's oscillations have left me pretty cynical. But I'm so excited about being at the genesis of Holford drive community sports hub revolution? And transforming the lifestyle of disadvantage people from with the area”