Volunteers from a Co Fermanagh counselling centre have spoken of their pride at receiving an award for their work during the pandemic.
Members of the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen were in attendance at Buckingham Palace this week to pick up a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service during the pandemic.
The centre had been granted the award previously but the service was deferred until this May due to Covid restrictions.
Present and former chairs of the centre, Allison Annan and Ann McDermott made their way to the garden party in London, where Prince Charles was in attendance to congratulate them.
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A torrential downpour on the day did not dampen spirits on the day, according to Allison.
“It was an absolute privilege to go over to the garden party on behalf of all the volunteers,” Allison told MyFermanagh.
“We had a great day - now it was a very wet day but we had come prepared.
“But we had the flat shoes and the umbrellas with us and we weren’t to be deterred.
“There was an awful lot of people there, about three thousand or maybe even more.
“The whole thing was lovely and there were bands playing and it was just such a lovely setting.”
The Aisling Centre was set up more than three decades ago , and offers free counselling and therapy services from professionals for those dealing with a variety of mental health issues locally.
“Here we are thirty years later at Buckingham Palace receiving an award, it was just amazing," Allison added.
“A lot of the volunteers we have been there a long time, we are very lucky and blessed that we have a fantastic group of volunteers.
“It’s an honour and a pleasure to be volunteering with them and it provides such a need in the community.”
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