Junior Chamber International (JCI) United Kingdom is one of 60 recipients of the The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award - the highest standard of recognition given to volunteer groups across the UK. In Portsmouth JCI has members who run the organisation on a voluntary basis. These volunteers give their time to create and deliver skills development opportunities, build business links and undertake community projects and initiatives. Recent projects have included working with the Fareham-based charity The Rainbow Centre.

JCI Portsmouth Local President, Jasmine Blofield who is also a volunteer said: “It is fantastic that JCI UK has been recognised with The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award 2012 and we are really proud that the projects we have undertaken locally, played their role in this award win. We are all immensely proud.”

“Our members give their time to make a real difference in the community and gain valuable skills and experience along the way. We are always keen to meet people who are interested in joining our organisation and we will be holding an event on 10th January.”

JCI UK had no shortage of support when it came to their award nomination. Wayne Clark, Managing Director of Best Companies Partnership LLP said of JCI UK: “JCI UK is the most inspirational organisation I have ever come across. In my daily work I advise organisations on how they can get more engaged employees, but I’ve never met a group as engaged as JCI, and this blew my mind.”

“The first time I met JCI members I thought they were a crazy bunch to use their Saturday to run and attend a conference. I’ve come to learn that this is what JCI members do. They spend their free time and holidays to make their communities better and to better themselves in the process.”

A small number of JCI UK members will travel to Buckingham Palace to attend a Reception in the late Spring of 2013 as a joint celebration for the Diamond Jubilee Award and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award.