Queen’s Award for volunteers

Greater Manchester Lieutenancy presentation to winners of The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2014 at Gorton 'The Monastery'. Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mrs Edith Conn; Bill Barlow, Marjorie Gratton, Maggie Holmes and Alan Griffiths from Oldham Bereavement Support Service and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith.

Dedicated volunteers who help people cope with grief have earned Oldham Bereavement Support Service (OBSS) a Queen’s Award for Voluntary service.

The group was one 13 that received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which has equivalent status as the MBE, at a special ceremony at Gorton Monastery.

Chairman Bill Barlow and vice-chairman Marjorie Gratton received an engraved commemorative crystal trophy and a certificate signed by the Queen.

It was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, and the vice lord-lieutenant, Mrs Edith Conn.

OBSS, formed 25 years ago, has a team of 55 grief-trained volunteers to care for adults and a further 12 to help children.

The volunteers offer confidential one-to-one support to adults and children in their own homes or at the Whiteside Centre, based in the grounds of the Royal Oldham Hospital.

OBSS vice-chairman Marjorie Gratton said: “We are so grateful to our team of volunteers for all their hard work and commitment over the years. They really help make a difference to so many people’s lives.”

Anyone who needs help or wants to refer someone else or volunteer as a counsellor should contact the the group by calling 0161-627 8207 on weekdays from 9am-2pm.