Glossop-based charity PCrefurb has held a celebration event to mark the receipt by its volunteers of the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

PCrefurb aims to “bridge the digital divide” by refurbishing donated IT equipment and redistributing it to those most in need. At its core is a group of volunteers, many of whom face complex challenges in their lives, who work as a team refurbishing the donated IT equipment. That equipment is then delivered by volunteer drivers.

In collaboration with the NHS and key community partners, PCrefurb also runs a Digital Wellbeing Project in which volunteer ‘Digital Champions’ help people develop their skills and confidence in using IT devices.

In attendance at the event last Thursday (23 June) were the Mayor of High Peak Councillor Ollie Cross and the Mayoress Mrs Gill Cross, volunteers, Trustees of PCrefurb and staff members. 

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities and Cllr Ollie Cross congratulated all those present for their extraordinary efforts supporting digital access for all.

The event was also an opportunity for PCrefurb to say farewell to three of its founding Trustees, Cllr Ed Kelly, Mary Jessop and Anthony Shelton. Former Chairman, Ed Kelly, spoke to those assembled about how the charity has grown, particularly doing the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and how bright its future looks.

PCrefurb Chief Officer Helen Melhuish told us: “The phenomenal impact of our volunteers' work, particularly through the worst times of the pandemic, has resulted in this wonderful and well-deserved award. It was a huge pleasure to welcome representatives of all our volunteer groups, Trustees, staff, partner organisations and supporters to the celebration. 

"To be able to thank our founding Trustees and volunteers made the evening even more special and we were very grateful to Mayor Ollie Cross and Mayoress Gill Cross for joining us. We’re looking forward to further celebrations during the year as we continue our work across High Peak and Tameside.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with PCrefurb can contact the charity via its website www.pcrefurb.org.uk 

Images by Nigel Wood

Read more from the Glossop Chronicle

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper