Essex Asian Women’s Association receives The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Essex Asian Women’s Association (EAWA), a registered charity comprised solely of volunteers and based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE for individuals.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. Recipients are announced annually in November, on The King’s Birthday, and 2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This year there are 281 recipients of The King’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK and Channel Islands.

Essex Asian Women’s Association was established in December 2006, adopting its Constitution in July 2007, and registering with the Charity Commission in January 2008. It invites membership from women of any background, religion or ethnicity who can subscribe to, and work to achieve its aims and objectives.

Essex Asian Women’s Association undertakes work to reduce personal isolation, enhance social harmony, improve mental wellbeing, provide support for vulnerable people and champion cultural harmony in Essex. To achieve its aims Essex Asian Women’s Association arranges social and cultural events, coach trips, exercise classes and health events, which also promote knowledge and awareness of topical health issues so people can make lifestyle choices to reduce their risks of illness.

Representatives of Essex Asian Women’s Association will receive the award crystal and certificate from Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from Essex Asian Women’s Association will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Mrs Nirmal Gupta, MBE, chairperson, and Trustee, of Essex Asian Women’s Association said, “Winning the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service is a tremendous honour for Essex Asian Women’s Association and gives us great pride. It recognises our dedication to supporting and empowering the local community over the last sixteen years and this award acknowledges the hard work of our volunteers who tirelessly contribute to making a positive impact in the community. We are deeply grateful for the recognition and support, and it encourages us to further our work for the benefit of those we serve.”

IMAGE: Left to Right: Mrs Nirmal Gupta, MBE (Trustee and Chairperson of EAWA), Mrs Veena Sood (Trustee and Treasurer of EAWA), Mrs Shiv Varma (Trustee and Secretary of EAWA) and Mrs Vaishali Mantri (Organising Secretary of EAWA)

About Essex Asian Women’s Association
eawasouthend.org

More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at
kavs.dcms.gov.uk