Naya Yuva Voluntary Group, in Farnborough, Hampshire recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2016.

Naya yuva, a voluntary group from Rushmoor District who works in the community to promote integration and support youths has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Naya Yuva is an independent voluntary organization established in 2010 with an intention to support youths, facilitate positive integration and encourage civic participation within the community. Our name ‘Naya Yuva’ stands for ‘New Youth’ in Nepali Language.

Vice-president Mina Pun and Advisor Sheila Limbu attended a garden tea party at Buckingham Palace on 19th May, 2016 where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award.

Nayayuva is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of awards given to groups this year is slightly higher than last year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Award winners this year range from a War Memorial Community Trust, providing social facilities for the benefit of the community in Clwyd, Wales, to a club enhancing the community by developing individuals through athletics, in Ayrshire and Arran, Scotland.

Nayayuva will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire later this summer.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said:

“I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.
The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said:

“I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer. I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.”

President of Nayayuva, Nilam Rai, said:

“It is a great honour for our volunteers to be awarded with such a prestigious award, for working selflessly for the community. I would also like to thank all the agencies, community and sponsors for supporting and working with us since 2010. Together as a group, we shall continue working with the youths to promote integration and cohesion in the community.”