A NAUTICAL charity in the UK is all at sea after being awarded a prestigious award from Buckingham Palace.
And now the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) wants to spread its reach by setting up a unit in the Isle of Man.
The MVS has just been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 for volunteer work carried out during the year including marshalling duties at the Olympics and work undertaken during the Queen’s jubilee.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.
It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. It is known as the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups.
Chris Todd, area volunteer officer for the North of the UK, working from Warrington and covering the Isle of Man, is eager to see a Manx unit become part of an organisation which features more than 30 units across the UK.
Each unit trains their members in valuable maritime skills, both on and off-shore, that can be called upon by the community in times of emergency.
MVS members are trained in handling boats, seamanship, basic marine engineering and operational support skills including radio and telephone communications, all of which can be put to good use in times of natural disaster or emergency.
‘This award is a great recognition of the hard work our members are doing quietly all the time,’ said Chris. ‘As a uniformed organisation, the MVS has a big part to play in the community. We have a proud history, formed from the ashes of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, with a training programme second to none.
‘It is wonderful to get positive recognition by gaining such a prestigious award and we are already looking forward to operating a full training programme in 2013.
‘I’d recommend anyone who is interested in boats and maritime activities to visit us – you don’t need any previous experience, as our training programme takes all abilities into account”
Contact Chris by calling 07885 448382 or email {mailto:avonorth@mvs.org.uk|avonorth(at)mvs.org.uk}