Queen's award for volunteer project
Our award-winning beneficiary, May Roberts, works on a local community project that gives people with learning difficulties the opportunity to help older people in their area to maintain their independence. She has been given a Queen's award and was invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party in honour of her achievements.
The Inside Outside project is supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. Volunteers with learning disabilities are supported to help older people in their homes. Since August 2004, 127 households have been helped by the project.
Volunteers have varying degrees of learning disability. Some are almost independent and live alone with a little support. Others need constant support, at home and in other activities.
The project enables both the volunteers and the older people to take an active part in their local communities and form new friendships.