Page 36 - Real Rochdale Issue 10 Summer 2021
P. 36
Rochdale Heartbeat honoured with
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Voluntary group Rochdale Heartbeat has
been honoured with a Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service – the highest award a
group can receive in the UK.
Rochdale Heartbeat provides a supported
programme for heart patients after their
discharge from NHS care, including a weekly
gentle exercise programme, availability of
professionals to discuss any worries and the
opportunity to meet other patients who have those who are medically qualified, those who
undergone similar heart procedures. have experienced heart complaints and their
attendant problems and others, who in some
It was founded in 1988 and became a charity way can offer relevant help and support.
in 1990, organising social evenings, healthy
lifestyle events, relevant interesting Heartbeat also holds a fortnightly exercise
speakers and fundraising events. and support group, which has had to be
suspended due to Covid, and they visit the
Commonly known as the MBE for volunteer patients in the Silver Heart unit at Fairfield
groups, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary every week. This too has been put on hold for
Service aims to recognise outstanding work the time being.
by volunteer groups to benefit their local
communities. It was created in 2002 to A representative from Rochdale Heartbeat
celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. said: “We are delighted that the group’s work
to support the heart patients of Rochdale
Rochdale Heartbeat will receive its award and beyond has been recognised.
later in the summer from the
Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and “We thank each and every one of our
then two members of the group will be volunteers and supporters for all their hard
invited to attend a garden party at work, support and commitment.
Buckingham Palace in 2022.
Sir Warren Smith, the Lord-Lieutenant of
Since inception, Rochdale Heartbeat has Greater Manchester said: “This award
raised over £350,000 and has donated recognises the contribution an organisation
various items of medical equipment to both makes within its community. It is a rare
Royal Oldham and Fairfield hospitals, as well honour. It is not won easily and it recognises
as donating 42 defibrillators to local sports real achievement, effort, and a major
venues, gyms, community halls and churches. contribution to the community.
Outside the organised classes, support is “The last 16 months have highlighted just
offered to patients, whether they are still how valuable volunteering is to the country,
in hospital, attending outpatient clinics or with groups innovatively continuing their
back home in the community. This support valuable work in the community, despite the
is offered by a variety of people, including restrictions and threat of the virus.”
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