OBE for Sam Ward, Royal Voluntary Service Deputy CEO

Sam Ward, Deputy CEO and Director of Services at Royal Voluntary Service, one of the UK’s largest national volunteering organisations, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours for services to charity.

Sam Ward has dedicated her adult life to supporting vulnerable people in local communities and has worked with Royal Voluntary Service for over 20 years.

During the pandemic, Sam worked with volunteers across Great Britain delivering life-sustaining services to those facing the toughest circumstances.

From emergency food parcels delivery and prescription services to creating a national telephone support service (250,000 calls) to building a Virtual Village Hall (online community with free activities; 40,000 visitors) to providing peer support to carers – the range of services Sam has developed have had an enormous impact.

In hospitals, she also led the development of new services supporting those leaving hospital, providing volunteer help just when most needed.

"Sam is thoroughly deserving of this award, she is utterly dedicated, highly talented and has made such a positive impact on so many people’s lives over so many years. I am delighted her extraordinary contribution to the voluntary sector has been recognised, I couldn’t be prouder."

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service

Sam is from Stoke-on-Trent and lives locally. She is a regular volunteer herself and is Vice Chair at YMCA Crewe.

For further information

Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting the NHS and thousands of vulnerable people in the community.

The charity works in local communities running home libraries, companionship support, home from hospital services and patient transport. Our Virtual Village Hall provides online activities and classes to promote wellbeing and keep people active.

The charity also delivers the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England enabled by the GoodSAM app.

To become a local volunteer search for volunteering opportunities in your area. Or help make a difference by making a secure online donation.

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