‘The Queen’s Award 2022’ for BSC Multicultural Services
BSC Multicultural Services (BSCMS) is a multi-award-winning charity and community organisation. It was established in 1998 by a group of dedicated community volunteers. For more than 24 years now it has been playing a significant role in improving the quality of life of local BME people in Ipswich and Suffolk. In recognition of its high quality of services, BSCMS was awarded MATRIX, a national quality standard, and it received an All-Inclusive Finalist Award from the Learning and Skills Council for its GET IT ON! project.
BSCMS has received recognition at local, regional and national level, having won the ‘Best Community Organisation’ award in the UK, and was invited to Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration at Sandringham Castle in 2012. In 2018, Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Community Foundation recognised BSCMS with the ‘Working Together Award’ and, in May 2018, when HRH Prince Edward visited Ipswich he praised BSCMS’s ‘wonderful’ work.
A year later, BSCMS won the ‘Suffolk Voluntary Organisation of the Year’ award from Suffolk Community Foundation. BSCMS work has been promoted locally and showcased at the national level, including in the House of Commons. The High Sheriff of Suffolk recognised BSCMS with ‘The Suffolk Award’ for its outstanding service during the COVID-19 pandemic and now BSCMS has been awarded the prestigious The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services for 2022.
Boshor Ali, Chairman of BSCMS, said, “I am delighted that BSC Multicultural Services has been recognised. Congratulations to our trustees, staff, volunteers, service users, funders and well-wishers! For more than 24 years now, BSCMS has been serving our communities with dedication and commitment and I am very happy to receive this accolade. Well done to all my colleagues and let’s keep up the good work.”
Mahbub Alam ‘Shamim’, Treasurer of BSCMS, said, ‘Over the last two decades, BSCMS’s trustees, staff and volunteers have worked diligently to make Ipswich and Suffolk an inclusive, tolerant and prosperous place for everyone to live and work. Our work has not only had a positive impact on BME communities, but also the wider society as a whole. I am delighted that this has been finally acknowledged by none other than Her Majesty the Queen. This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team at BSCMS!’
BSC Multicultural Services to celebrate two decades of helping the community
Applause, cheers and a few tears as BME winners revealed
Former Glastonbury stars to perform at Ipswich One Big Multicultural Festival
Six women share top prize at celebration of Suffolk’s unsung heroes
It was a night to remember at this year’s High Sheriff Awards – as one prize was shared by no fewer than six inspiring women for the first time in the event’s history.
The winners of the High Sheriff Awards 2019 were revealed at a glittering ceremony this evening, with inspiring people from across the county celebrated for their selfless contribution to society.
George Vestey, High Sheriff of Suffolk, said the standard of entries was “quite extraordinary” – spoiling the judges to such an extent that, in one case, they chose to split an award between six worthy nominees.
A total of nine High Sheriff Awards were presented, and the new Suffolk Medal was launched, at the ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Suffolk’s Lesley Dolphin and Tim Holder, from Suffolk Community Foundation, at Wherstead Park on Thursday evening.
The winners included six outstanding women who were nominated as Inspiring Leaders: Fiona Ellis from Survivors in Transition, Tara Somers from Homestart, Ann Osborn from The Coffee Caravan, Maureen Reynel from FIND Families in Need, Emma Ratzer from Access Community Trust, and Rebecca Crerar from Suffolk Refugee Support.
In a first for the High Sheriff Awards, the judging panel felt they could not choose between the nominees – so elected to split the prize six ways.
Other winners included a young arts trustee, a young people’s project based at an army base, and a doctor who started the accident rescue service in Suffolk.
Mr Vestey, whose year-long term as High Sheriff ends this month, said: “Last night was an incredible ceremony, with so many great stories about what our amazing volunteers are doing to provide vital support their communities.
“The standard of entries was quite extraordinary this year so to pick winners was really difficult. That said we had nine outstanding category winners who can be justifiably proud of their achievement.”
Stephen Singleton, chief executive of Suffolk Community Foundation, added: “Another wonderful Suffolk celebration of all the great work that our local charities and community groups do to change local lives.
“It was particularly great to hear ‘partnerships’ be discussed and rewarded. Team Suffolk working together for the common good.”
Those attending the awards ceremony also saw the launch of the latest scheme designed to celebrate the work of those in the voluntary sector.
The Suffolk Medal, designed by world-famous Suffolk artist Maggie Hambling, is the brainchild of George Vestey, and will be awarded to the first recipients on Suffolk Day on June 21, 2019.
High Sheriff Awards 2019, winners:
- Suffolk Inspiring Leader Award: Fiona Ellis (Survivors in Transition), Tara Somers (Homestart), Ann Osborn (The Coffee Caravan), Maureen Reynel (FIND Families in Need), Emma Ratzer (Access Community Trust), and Rebecca Crerar (Suffolk Refugee Support)
- Suffolk Volunteer of the Year Award (25 years and over): Gillian Brough
- Suffolk Young Volunteer of the Year Award (up to 25 years of age): Chloe Pearson
- Suffolk Collaborative Partnership Award: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT)
- Suffolk Voluntary Organisation of the Year Award: Rebuilding Broken Lives: YMCA Trinity Group
- Suffolk Voluntary Organisation of the Year Award: Inspiring young people: The Bangladeshi Support Centre
- Suffolk Strengthen Your Community Award: Operation Camouflage
- Suffolk Voluntary Health Care Award: Livability Icanho
- Suffolk Emergency and Armed Services Volunteers Award: Dr Jeremy Mauger
The following organisations also received grants from the High Sheriff’s Fund:
- Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre
- Bury Town Pastors
- Catch 22
- Home-Start Mid & West Suffolk
- PHOEBE
- Porch Project
- Sporting 87 Football Club
- Suffolk Rape Crisis
- The Mix Stowmarket
- Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library
Article from EADT – original here.
Suffolk celebrates its local heroes at the High Sheriff’s Awards 2019
On 28 March Suffolk Community Foundation were joined by charities and community groups from all over Suffolk, along with supporters and sponsors for the High Sheriff’s Awards – a prestigious annual event that publicly recognises these groups, along with individuals (many of whom are volunteers) for their contribution in making Suffolk a safer, better and more inclusive place to live.
In partnership with Suffolk Community Foundation, The High Sheriff, George Vestey, held this year’s High Sheriff’s Awards for Suffolk at Wherstead Park, courtesy of the East of England Cooperative Society.
After a glass of fizz and the chance to catch up over a deliciously gooey brownie or two, guests were ushered to their seats while West Suffolk Youth Jazz played a jazz medley in the background. An excited buzz filled the air as the High Sheriff of Suffolk George Vestey took to the stage to warmly welcome everyone and introduce the hosts for the evening – BBC Radio Suffolk’s Lesley Dolphin and Suffolk Community Foundation’s very own Tim Holder!
Before the awards ceremony could begin, there was some very important news to share. The Suffolk Medal has now been launched, and guests were treated to an exclusive screening of the new film, which explains the reasoning behind this most prestigious award, as well as sharing some charming anecdotes from Maggi Hambling, the renowned Suffolk artist who has designed the medal.
The fifth award of the evening was the Suffolk Voluntary Organisation of the Year Award – Inspiring Young People, won by The Bangladeshi Support Centre. This award was kindly sponsored by Shout About Suffolk, and Co-Founder Paddy Bishopp joined the High Sheriff on stage to present the award.
For full details see this article on the Suffolk Community Foundation site.
Invitation to Lunch
Today we were invited to attend a joint business charity lunch by the High Sheriff Mr George Vestey DL hosted at Birketts by Jonathan Agar, Chief Executive Officer of Birketts. The High Sheriff spoke of the importance of local businesses supporting the charity sector.
The High Sheriff at our offices last December
100 Inspirational Women in Suffolk
This is a list that Suffolk should be proud of – 100 women who are positive role models for future generations, women who have achieved success in a diverse range of fields from business, the arts, sport and education to the third sector.
The list was put together by a panel of judges this summer following nominations from East Anglian Daily Times readers.
From the 100
Shayra Begum, Bangladeshi Support Centre, Ipswich: Shayra, manager of Ipswich’s Bangladeshi Support Centre, came to England in 1975, aged six, from Bangladesh with her mother to join her father who had settled in Ipswich. Shayra, now mother to four grown-up children herself, has always lived in the town and says nowhere else compares. By the age of seven or eight she says she was already involved in helping the Bangladeshi community by interpreting at GP surgeries, hospitals, Inland Revenue, and the Benefits Office as only a handful spoke English at the time. Shayra says she has had various roles supporting the local Bangladeshi community and she has worked for the BSC since 2004 in various roles. BSC is a voluntary organisation supporting people of around 40 different nationalities. “I have worked on various projects over the years,” Shayra says, “as well as a general adviser providing advice, support and guidance on a whole range of issues including domestic violence issues, benefits, housing, and Immigration. I also deliver various training such as in cultural awareness to service providers.“I enjoy the challenges of event management and manage events for BSC such as the Suffolk Pita Festival and the One Big Multicultural Festival that brings in thousands of people from Suffolk and beyond to enjoy music and food from around the world, with an aim to create a better understanding between the diverse communities of Suffolk. “I am a trustee for the Disabled Advice Bureau and also volunteer for the Ipswich and Suffolk Muslim Council where I help to put on events to create better understanding of the Muslim faith and help out at its monthly Feed the Homeless project.”