Deptford youth charity honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Life may not be a beach at the moment, but Second Wave are trying to make it more buoyant.

The youth creativity organisation based in Deptford, has received the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Second Wave, a youth arts charity has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Since 1982, Second Wave has been offering young people a safe, creative space to develop their skills and confidence.

The young volunteers from the organisation use the creative skills they have gained to support other young people and build trust and safety in the local community.

This includes partnership work with local schools, community organisations, and the police. During the Covid crisis, Second Wave’s volunteers continued to support vulnerable young people and helped to produce a film with online learning materials to address the issue of grooming.

Second Wave’s work on improving relationships between young people, the local community, and the police has been noted by the receipt of prestigious awards such as the British Empire Medal in 2018 and a Metropolitan Police Service Commendation in 2007.

One of its backers is former Brixton cop, Chief Inspector Jack Rowlands, who said: “The best reflective practice I ever saw was between Second Wave and the Territorial Support Group. Both the police officers and young people got so much from it… I am a huge advocate…”

Precious Garuba, 18, a volunteer involved in the programme, said: “It’s important for me to address issues about the police and young people by making our voices heard. It helps to make our communities safe.”

Cheryl Brown, the Director of Trustees for the organisation, said: “It is amazing to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary

Service in recognition of our work our volunteers, they have shown dedication in serving their community over many years.”

This year Second Wave is one of 241 organisations from across the UK to have received the award. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteers who benefit their local communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Representatives of Second Wave Youth Arts will receive the crystal award and certificate from Sir Kenneth Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London later this summer.

Two volunteers from Second Wave will also attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.