Shropshire Rural Support, a charity providing a free confidential service for farmers and rural people, has won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services. The charity is managed by a committee of trustees, all volunteers from the farming community who all work unpaid. The recognition by this prestigious award, is a wonderful accolade for such an important organisation in Shropshire.

The Chair of Shropshire Rural Support, Andrew Bebb, said “we were delighted to have been nominated for this award, and absolutely over the moon to have won the Queens’ Award for Voluntary Services. Congratulations and a big thank you must go to our trustees and volunteers, past and present, as this award is recognition for their hard work in helping to build the reputation of Shropshire Rural Support.

“We would not be in existence today without the inspiration of Clifford Evans MBE, that work being carried on more recently by Brenda Sturrock, whose determination kept us going through some lean years.

On August the 20th at Minsterley Show Mrs Anna Turner, Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire presented Clifford Evans with the award and the following citation.

Identifying “Protection of Life” as their key aim, Shropshire Rural Support volunteers have worked tirelessly for more than three decades to tackle mental health in rural communities. Long before wider society recognized the prevalence of mental health issues, they made the links between rural isolation and depression with suicides and set about preventing them.Through voluntary and partnership effort, SRS volunteers develop and offer support services that meet the needs of those suffering from all forms of stress arising from their rural way of life, regardless of economic status. Whilst a relatively small group of volunteers, at least half have worked for more than two decades providing specialist support to isolated and often quite desperate farmers. Their SRS work has become an integral part of their lives, their dedication and commitment admirable and assessors were most impressed by their relentless determination to find the best possible and most appropriate solutions for those in crisis and distress.

Shropshire Rural Support volunteers are an exceptional, inspiring, and selfless group of people working for the rural community in Shropshire and this makes them extremely worthy winners of The Queens Award for Voluntary Service.