A dedicated volunteer from Almondbury has been championed by Royalty ahead of the King’s Coronation.
Eileen Booth, who helps run Ambry’s Community Café in Almondbury, has been recognised as one of 500 Coronation Champions.
This follows a call out to the nation to nominate their volunteer heroes. Almost 5,000 entries were received, with nominations made for individuals aged from 14 up to 103!
Eileen impressed judges with her unflagging support for the café and the local community. Ambry’s in Northgate is a volunteer-run cafe, renowned as a community hub and a place to meet and eat in the village.
In her 20 years with Ambry’s café, Eileen has acted as a volunteer, recruiter of other volunteers, the inspiration and trainer of countless volunteers and generally the person who helps to keep the place ticking along.
She, along with the rest of the volunteers, has helped the café to raise thousands of pounds which is then passed back, in the form of grants, to local charities and good causes.
If that wasn’t enough in the last few years Eileen has acted as the café’s chair, having previously served on the management committee.
With the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, a passionate advocate of volunteering and president of Royal Voluntary Service, the Coronation Champions Awards were launched to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history.
Across the UK, 500 Champions impressed the judging panel with the impact of their work, their inspirational stories and unwavering commitment to volunteering.
All Coronation Champions, including Eileen, have been invited to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party. Eileen will attend the concert at Windsor on Sunday May 7.
The Champions will also receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin and a certificate signed by the King and Queen Consort.
Eileen said: “I am thrilled and delighted to have been nominated to be a Coronation Champion and to have been selected to be one of the 500 is very gratifying.
“Although this is an individual honour, it reflects on all the volunteers and the work everyone puts in and what we achieve for local charities and good causes.”
Catherine Johnstone CBE, chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “We were completely blown away by the response to the Community Champions Awards and the huge volume of amazing nominees put forward.
“Our judges had a tough job selecting just 500 Champions from an array of thousands of inspirational individuals, who all deserve to be recognised and commended.
“Each of our Coronation Champions displayed a commitment and contribution that far exceeds any expectation and we’re overjoyed to honour and thank them during this exciting point in history.”
