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The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Upbeat is a voluntary run group who work in the local West Suffolk community providing rehabilitation exercise classes and support for people with heart related illnesses and has been honoured with the Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can achieve in the U.K.

Upbeat is a self-funding group completely run by volunteers and has been providing rehabilitation classes and support for heart patients and their carers for over twenty years.

In April 2018, Upbeat received the following email:

“I am writing to inform you that UPBEAT HEART SUPPORT GROUP was nominated for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2018.
 This award was created by The Queen in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's coronation, recognising excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. It is the MBE for volunteer groups.

The work your group does for the community was very much admired by the independent Assessment Committee, chaired by Sir Martyn Lewis CBE and I am delighted to inform you that your group has been selected as a recipient for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) 2018.
The award of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2018 represents a tremendous achievement for your organisation. We hope that everyone involved, and particularly your volunteers, feel immensely proud of the recognition that this Award represents.”

Official Announcement

The official announcement that Upbeat were recipients of this award was made on 2nd June 2018 from Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

The Chairman, Sylvia Baker and the Secretary, Hilary Neeves were invited to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 15th May 2018 in honour of the award where members of the Royal Family were present along with the other award winners.

Official Presentation

In November 2018 we received a signed certificate from Her Majesty which was presented by Clare, Countess of Euston and the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk at a ceremony held at The New Bury Centre in Bury St Edmunds. We were also presented with an English crystal glass trophy displaying the QAVS logo insignia.

This was attended by members, past and present, as well as several founder members (in 1975) and past committee members. The ceremony included set protocol which had to be adhered to comply with the instructions issued from the Lieutenancy Office. Civic dignitaries attending included the Mayor of St Edmundsbury Margaret Marks, the deputy lieutenants Judith Shallow and Claire Horsley, the chairman of Suffolk County Council Michael Ladd, Stephen Singleton from the Suffolk Community Foundation, and the chairman of Bury St Edmunds Town Council Andrew Speed and Daemmon Reeve patron of Upbeat.

A Unique Award and a memorable and proud day

Amongst the speeches, the Lord Lieutenant congratulated Upbeat and informed that when signing the Certificate, the Queen enquired about the volunteer work conducted by the group.

The event was a proud and happy occasion for all at Upbeat and the ceremony ended with tea and sandwiches and the dignitaries walked about talking to members.

We were the only group in Suffolk to be recognised by the Palace in 2018

A fantastic achievement - Well done everyone.

The work continues and we remain committed to Upbeat and its ethos, there for all, caring and sharing for each other.

Upbeat Heart Support Group' is a registered independent charity set up by ex-cardiac patients with the aim of providing exercise, social and health educational activities for those who have had heart attacks or other heart related problems and their partner or carer.

Upbeat exercise sessions, run by qualified professional instructors and overseen by cardiac advisers are held weekly at Bury St Edmunds in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in the evenings on Fridays and at Long Melford on Tuesday mornings. Full details of venues and timings may be found under 'Exercise Sessions' under the 'What We Offer' tab.

As well as encouraging exercise, 'Upbeat' offers a range of social and educational events to provide members with opportunities to understand and discuss 'heart issues' as well as the all important mutual support. This is particularly helpful for those for whom exercise may not be an option.

Welcome to the Upbeat Heart Support Group Website

Registered Charity Number: 1087415

Exercise Sessions

Quiz night

Musical Evenings

VE Day Celebrations

Upbeat Nurses