Posted on: 18 October 2018Twelve community champions and two volunteer groups, all from Devon, received their Royal honours at a double awards ceremony on Friday 12 October.Representatives from the two volunteer groups were presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018 at a investiture at County Hall in Exeter.The award, the highest given each year to volunteer groups, sets the benchmark for excellence in volunteering and is equivalent in status to the MBE.It recognises and celebrates outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping and providing opportunities for others in the community.The twelve community champions were also presented with their British Empire Medals (BEM) at the same ceremony.The BEM (formally British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) recognises meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the CrownAll the awards are part of Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List for Devon 2018 and will be presented by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, the Queen's personal representative in the county.

QAVS recipients with HM Lord-Lt David FursdonRecipients of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service:* Dartmouth Caring * SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity – Devon BranchRecipients of the British Empire Medal:Mrs Gina Lorraine Awad – For voluntary service to People with Dementia in Devon      Arnold Joseph Bradbury – For services to Charity and the community in Barnstaple      Mrs Rosemary Cole – For services to Performing Arts in the South West     Mrs Joan Dixon –For services to Young People Abroad and in Barnstaple Mrs Ann Elizabeth Liverton – For services to Families, Children in East Devon.    Mrs Jennifer Hazel Newman – For services to the community in Exmouth     Roger William Pullen – For services to the community and Patients on North Devon     Ms Judith Catherine Reynolds – For services to Higher Education                 Stuart Jeffrey Rogers – For services to the Post Office and the community of AshburtonMrs Caroline Steffens – For services to Vulnerable People in Devon.               Mrs Anne Kathleen Tattersall – For services to the community and charity in North Devon.Mrs Susan Veale – For services to Disabled People in Devon.HM Lord-Lt David Fursdon said:

HM Lord-Lt David Fursdon"I was delighted to present The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and the British Empire Medal to these worthy recipients."These groups and individuals have stood up and made a real difference by going above and beyond in their profession for the benefit of the community or by devoting their time and volunteering to improving the quality of people's lives."All those who are receiving their honours today thoroughly deserve to have their achievements and hard work recognised nationally."