Braille group wins Queen's voluntary award

A voluntary group from East Lancashire which works with members of the blind community has been honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
Braille-Its Chairman Christopher Tattersall, along with his wife Marjorie and guide dog Bobby, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. (S)Braille-Its Chairman Christopher Tattersall, along with his wife Marjorie and guide dog Bobby, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. (S)
Braille-Its Chairman Christopher Tattersall, along with his wife Marjorie and guide dog Bobby, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. (S)

Braille-It delivers free Braille tuition and keyboard skills to the blind, partially sighted, and parents and carers of blind children at six centres including Burnley and Clitheroe.

Braille-It has also transcribed football programmes into Braille for Blackburn Rovers blind fans and away supporters.

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The award is the highest a voluntary group can receive and Braille-It’s Chairman Christopher Tattersall, from Clitheroe, along with his wife Marjorie and guide dog Bobby, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award.

Braille-It is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

Mr Tattersall said: “Over the past 16 years Braille-It has grown into a wonderful voluntary service and it is an honour to be a winner of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary service.

“This award is in recognition of all the hard work put in by everyone involved with Braille-It.”

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Braille-It will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy Office to be held in July.

Lord Shuttleworth said: “This year’s result makes a total of 43 winners from Lancashire since the award was inaugurated by HM The Queen in her Golden Jubilee Year in 2002.

“The awards, which are the highest national honour available to a voluntary organisation, are a reflection of the substantial amount of work undertaken by these voluntary groups in the county.”