Sikh Union Coventry has been honoured with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This award is the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities and is equivalent in status to an MBE. The Award was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2nd June; the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Members of Sikh Union officially received the Award at an event they organised at the Daimler Green Community Centre on Saturday 6th August 2016 in the presence of several dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Coventry.
Sikh Union Coventry works in the community by managing projects that support vulnerable children and adults through team sports and health improvement. Projects are supported locally, nationally and internationally. Recent beneficiaries have been Cancer and the Children’s Appeal funds at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, the Lord Mayors charity for the restoration of a local church. Overseas projects include eye camps and prosthetic limb projects in India and water borehole projects in Kenya. More recently the charity has been instrumental in rescuing the Daimler Green Community Centre from closure, thereby securing a place of recreation and activity for the local community.
Bhovinder Nagra a Director and Trustee of Sikh Union is shown receiving the Award from Mr. Simon Topman MBE DL, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands, who said
“Sikh Union Coventry are an outstanding organisation and an example to us all of what can be achieved through volunteering. Not only do they offer massive and vital support overseas, providing eye treatment which we take for granted but which are truly life enhancing in India and Africa, but equally making a massive contribution to Coventry. Their sports day which attracts over ten thousand visitors and the work they are doing in their still relatively new community centre (Daimler Green) is bringing back the community spirit to an area where many thought it was lost. As an example of generosity, hard work, determination and vision, they are one of the most deserving of this Award that I have ever come across. I shall watch with interest their future development without any doubt that it will be as inspiring as their past.”
Bhovinder Nagra said
“We are honoured and delighted to have been recognised for the voluntary work which our organisation has been carrying out for over forty six years in Coventry and around the world. The Sikh Union Board of Trustees expresses its whole hearted appreciation and gratitude to all members of Sikh Union for their tireless commitment in organising various events throughout the year and raising much needed funds.
Our sincere thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers and organisations that work with us for their support in all aspects of our work; and I urge members of our local community to join us in making further advancements in our charitable work locally and overseas.”
Registered Charity Name: Sikh Union Ltd
Registered Charity Number: 1150047
