A charity in High Wycombe has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for voluntary service.
The award, which is the group equivalent of an MBE, was given to the Wycombe Refugee Partnership (WRP) earlier this month on August 14.
It was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe, who attended a ceremony at the grounds of Wycombe Museum.
This prestigious honour recognises the “outstanding commitment” the charity group has shown
Since 2002, just 50 groups in Buckinghamshire have received this award.
The assessors reported: “Wycombe Refugee Partnership excels at providing wrap-around support for refugees and asylum-seekers when their lives are at their lowest ebb.
"The distinctive make-up of Wycombe Refugee Partnerships trustees (50% Christian, 50% Muslim) provides leadership enabling volunteers to achieve a unique depth and breadth to their work.”
"Dr Michael Bowker, chairman of WRP, said: “We have been acting with loving kindness towards refugees in High Wycombe since 2016. When the pandemic started, we extended our reach to give support to asylum-seekers too.
"We now have nearly 100 active volunteers supporting over 100 people locally. It is a source of collective pride to be thus recognised.”
Dr Stephanie Rybak, vice-chair, added: “One of the most valued things which our volunteers offer is the sense that someone sees past the label of refugee or asylum-seeker and cares what becomes of that person or family.
"When people have been bundled around by an impersonal system and don’t understand the world in which they find themselves, that humanity is beyond price.”
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