Press Release –
Solihull Borough Talking Newspaper Association (SBTNA) receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020.
SBTNA a group of volunteers based in Solihull have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. SBTNA is a charity that offers the freedom of its blind and partially sighted listeners to listen to local news whenever they choose. SBTNA is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including a community shop in Cornwall, an environmental group in Swansea, a group working with refugees and vulnerable people in Stirling and a thriving community arts centre in County Down.
Representatives of SBTNA will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands sometime in 2021. It should have been in the summer of 2020 but had to be postponed due to covid concerns. Furthermore two volunteers from the SBTNA will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award. This will be on a date yet to be determind, again because of covid.
Mrs. Marion Canning, who was Chairman of SBTNA at the time, said:
“How delighted we are that our group’s work to allow the blind and partially sighted freedom to hear the news at a time of their choosing has been recognised.
I pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers throughout the years, some of whom have been with the charity for over 20 years. SBTNA made their first recordings in the 1970’s.”
You can read more about the SBTNA's history by clicking on the 'History' tab on the left hand side of this page. Ed.
Notes : -
1. Lord Lieutenants represent the monarch in each of the UK’s ceremonial counties.
2. This year there were 230 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service
3. Any group of two or more people that has participated in voluntary work for more than three years can be nominated for the award. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://qavs.culture.gov.uk/nominations
Further information about the SBTNA and this award can be obtained from -
Derek Bush – Information Officer SBTNA Tel: 01564 775854, Or , Peter Morris -Group Leader SBTNA Tel: 0121 688 6883
Marion Canning 1935 – 2020
It is with great regret the death is announced of Marion Canning who died suddenly at home on September 24th. Marion was an active and enthusiastic personality with a flair for leadership. Together with her late husband Marion was involved in the running of the local branch of the National Trust. She was a member of the Guild of Toastmasters and oversaw many celebrations and formal occasions in the role of Master of Ceremonies until retiring in 2019.
Marion joined the Solihull Borough Talking Newspaper Association in 2010 and played a prominent role as a reader, a producer and leader of a copying team. In 2013 Marion became the Chairman of the Association and with the proposed changes to Touchwood and the Solihull Priory building she oversaw the transfer of the Talking Newspaper to a purpose-built recording facility in the Lower Ground Floor of the Core. In 2017 she led the Association to an award from Solihull Council -The Solihull Together Award for The Outstanding Community Project and in 2020 to the award of the Queen’s Award to Voluntary Organisations.( The MBE for Volunteer Groups)- Marion was expected to accept the award at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace but the event was postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Marion could be forceful when necessary but was also most compassionate when dealing with people less fortunate than herself. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends and colleagues.
It is with great regret the death is announced of Marion Canning who died suddenly at home on September 24th. Marion was an active and enthusiastic personality with a flair for leadership. Together with her late husband Marion was involved in the running of the local branch of the National Trust. She was a member of the Guild of Toastmasters and oversaw many celebrations and formal occasions in the role of Master of Ceremonies until retiring in 2019.
Marion joined the Solihull Borough Talking Newspaper Association in 2010 and played a prominent role as a reader, a producer and leader of a copying team. In 2013 Marion became the Chairman of the Association and with the proposed changes to Touchwood and the Solihull Priory building she oversaw the transfer of the Talking Newspaper to a purpose-built recording facility in the Lower Ground Floor of the Core. In 2017 she led the Association to an award from Solihull Council -The Solihull Together Award for The Outstanding Community Project and in 2020 to the award of the Queen’s Award to Voluntary Organisations.( The MBE for Volunteer Groups)- Marion was expected to accept the award at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace but the event was postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Marion could be forceful when necessary but was also most compassionate when dealing with people less fortunate than herself. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends and colleagues.
We're on the Radio!
At least Marion Canning and Derek Bush were. On 16th August 2018, the duo were invited by Nick Whitehouse of Solihull Radio to do a 'PodCast'.
This was a terrific free publicity opportunity which our SBTNA stalwarts seized with both their hands.
You can listen to what they had to say by clicking on this link -
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-jw5df-979819
The Photo below shows our John Hill thanking Zone C of the Lions Club Midlands for their generous donation
The seven Lions clubs involved donated a significant amount of money which allowed us to purchase a new copying machine. In addition we were also able to purchase a large number of new USB sticks for our listeners to enjoy the weekly news and quarterly magazine.
At least Marion Canning and Derek Bush were. On 16th August 2018, the duo were invited by Nick Whitehouse of Solihull Radio to do a 'PodCast'.
This was a terrific free publicity opportunity which our SBTNA stalwarts seized with both their hands.
You can listen to what they had to say by clicking on this link -
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-jw5df-979819
The Photo below shows our John Hill thanking Zone C of the Lions Club Midlands for their generous donation
The seven Lions clubs involved donated a significant amount of money which allowed us to purchase a new copying machine. In addition we were also able to purchase a large number of new USB sticks for our listeners to enjoy the weekly news and quarterly magazine.
From left to right - Stephen A Meakin (President Balsall Common Lions Club) John Hill (SBTNA) Jaap de Jonge (Zone chair, Zone C of the Lions Midlands District. Zone C includes the 7 Lions clubs of Solihull MB: Balsall Common, Birmingham Exhibition, Castle Bromwich, Knowle & Dorridge, Marston Green, Shirley, Solihull) Stephen Walker (President Solihull Lions Club)
The above photo was taken on the occasion of the Solihull Together Awards presentation in 2018.
SBTNA won the 'Outstanding Community Project' award.
Well done to all, it's nice to be recognised. Keep up the good work.
The people featured are, from left to right -
John McDonald, John Hill, David Carrington-Porter, Marion Canning (SBTNA Chairman), Derek Bush (these five are all SBTNA volunteers and committee members).
The man on the far right and the presenter of the award, is Councillor Bob Sleigh O.B.E.
SBTNA won the 'Outstanding Community Project' award.
Well done to all, it's nice to be recognised. Keep up the good work.
The people featured are, from left to right -
John McDonald, John Hill, David Carrington-Porter, Marion Canning (SBTNA Chairman), Derek Bush (these five are all SBTNA volunteers and committee members).
The man on the far right and the presenter of the award, is Councillor Bob Sleigh O.B.E.
