Posted on Monday 6th June 2022
Staffordshire Lord-Lieutenant Ian Dudson
Volunteers and staff from Stoke-on-Trent youth charity Ruff and Ruby, Cauldwell Children, and Lichfield Food Bank were amongst the 750 guests invited to the Staffordshire Jubilee Garden Party at the County Showground on Wednesday 1 June.
The event was hosted by the Staffordshire Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Ian Dudson to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
Speaking about the event, Mr Dudson said:
“This week we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and I was delighted that Staffordshire was able to play it’s part in the celebrations.
“Our garden party was a real success and a wonderful way to celebrate this historic event. It was also a great opportunity to bring together and thank the thousands of amazing volunteers and community groups who give up their time to help people in their local communities.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic we saw many of these groups stepping up to help others in need. This is our way of thanking and showing our appreciation for everything they have done.”
Alan White, Leader at Staffordshire County Council added:
“I was delighted to see so many people joining in the Jubilee Bank Holiday celebrations to mark the Queen’s remarkable seventy year reign.
“We have wonderful community spirit in Staffordshire and a vibrant voluntary sector all helping to make Staffordshire people’s lives better. We saw this first hand during the Covid-19 pandemic when groups and individuals rallied to help others in need. I’m delighted the garden party was such a success and we got the chance to thank them for what they do.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Abi Brown said:
“It’s wonderful that so many residents, charities and voluntary groups from across the city have been invited to attend the garden party as a thank-you for their efforts during the covid-19 pandemic. Each and every one played an invaluable part in helping people most in need in the most trying of circumstances. It’s only fitting that their contributions are recognised at a time when we are celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s lifetime of public service.”
Dawn Reynolds, CEO and Founder of Stoke-on-Trent youth charity Ruff and Ruby said:
“We were very honoured to be attending the garden party as a local urban youth charity, Ruff and Ruby who support thousands of vulnerable young people per year across Stoke-on-Trent.
“During the pandemic we emerged with a ‘’DOORSTEP DOORSTOP’ support plan continuing to support vulnerable young people with ‘TLC tubs for teens in poverty’ & 121 doorstop mentoring for young people with mental health.”
Richard Shenton, from Cauldwell Children said:
“It was a great honour for Caudwell Children to be invited to attend the Jubilee garden party and I represent a charity that worked tirelessly during the pandemic to ensure families with young children with disabilities still had a voice and also received essential equipment during those difficult times”
Angela Bickley, from Lichfield Foodbank said:
“I would like to say that it’s an honour for Lichfield Foodbank to be invited to be represented at this event. We have managed to continue our service of providing emergency food parcels for those in need, throughout the pandemic, whilst maintaining the safety of both clients and volunteers.”
Debbie Melling, East Staffordshire PCN Vaccination and Community Manager said:
“As a vaccination centre, we felt honoured and humbled to receive such an invitation to the Lord-Lieutenant’s garden party.
“We welcome the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all involved at the centre. The pandemic has created a social network for the community of East Staffordshire with a shared vision as one big community family. We have shown that by working together, we are not only better, but we are also far more resilient. We hope going forward we can together continue to make East Staffs a stronger, healthier and happier place to be.”
Julie Roberts, Children’s Community Care Service Manager at Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) said:
“It is such an honour for our staff at MPFT to receive an invitation to the Jubilee Garden Party, we are all excited to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne and it feels like such a community event with so many planning celebrations like this across the country.
“After the difficult time we have all had in the NHS and for the public during the pandemic, this feels like a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate what will be an historic event with colleagues, family and friends.
David Harris, a regular volunteer at Kingswood Trust and Chair of the Board also attended the event. David said:
“The Kingswood Trust was honoured in 2019 by being awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and this has helped sustain our staff and volunteers who were called upon to feed and care for our animals, maintain our grounds and buildings whenever possible while we all endured the varying restrictions caused by the pandemic.
“As Chair I felt honoured that the Kingswood Trust should have received such a prestigious award, and this helped us all keep our spirits up from the outset. I was equally thrilled to be invited to the Staffordshire Jubilee Garden Party which hopefully indicates that this might signal the end of Covid and a return to normality. In any case a lovely occasion that will certainly remain with me for years to come.”
Other organisations attending the party included GP surgeries, health providers, hospital staff and volunteers, care home staff, care workers, volunteers working on Covid-19 and public sector staff.