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The Queen’s Award and LINKnet’s Growth: Insights from The Meeting with The Lord Provost and Deputy Lieutenant

Ahmed

23 Sept 2024

On the 23rd of September 2024, the LINKnet team was honoured to .....

The Queen’s Award and LINKnet’s Growth: Insights from The Meeting with The Lord Provost and Deputy Lieutenant

On the 23rd of September 2024, the LINKnet team was honoured to be invited to the City Chambers for a meeting with the Lord Provost and the Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh. The primary focus of the gathering was to reflect on how the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which was bestowed upon LINKnet Mentoring Ltd. in 2018, has shaped the organisation and enhanced its services.

The meeting was attended by the following members:

· The Lord Provost

· The Deputy Lieutenant

· Mageed Abdalla, The Chair

· Wilson Masih, Board Director

· Ranbandara Dissanayaka, Executive Director

· Afaf Azzahari, Development Team Coordinator

· Divya Jenson, Development Officer

· Susan Swindells and Hilary Swanston, Volunteer Mentors

· Yi Ning Tan, Kaitlin Yoder, and Raymonde Honore-L’Hortalle, Volunteers

During this insightful meeting, several key points were discussed, highlighting the far-reaching impact the Queen’s Award has had on the organisation:

1. Enhanced Credibility and Recognition: Since receiving the Queen’s Award, LINKnet has proudly incorporated the award’s logo across all official communication channels, including emails, the website, and printed materials. The association with such a prestigious honour has greatly elevated the organisation’s profile, adding credibility and trustworthiness to LINKnet’s image in the eyes of stakeholders.

2. Strengthened Partnerships: The Queen’s Award has played a pivotal role in LINKnet’s ability to establish and foster stronger partnerships with other organisations. The recognition that accompanies this award has made collaborations smoother, as it has increased LINKnet’s visibility and solidified its reputation as an impactful organisation in the voluntary sector.

3. Increased Success in Funding Applications:

One of the significant outcomes of receiving the Queen’s Award has been a marked improvement in the success rate of funding applications. This has allowed LINKnet to expand its services, enhance resources, and implement new initiatives, furthering the organisation’s impact in the community.

4. Empowering Volunteer Engagement: The award has also been a powerful tool in attracting and retaining volunteers. Volunteers feel a sense of pride being part of an organisation recognised at such a high level, which in turn fosters a deeper sense of commitment and motivation.

5. Organisational Growth: Internally, the award has driven LINKnet to continually improve its services, motivating the team to achieve higher standards. The award has been a symbol of validation for the hard

work put in by our volunteers and staff, motivating them to push boundaries and expand our reach.

Overall, the meeting with the Lord Provost was an opportunity to celebrate LINKnet’s achievements while also reflecting on the immense value that the Queen’s Award has brought to the organisation. This prestigious award has had a profound influence on LINKnet’s growth over the past few years. It has helped LINKnet solidify its standing as a leading mentoring organisation, and its ripple effects continue to enhance our operations, partnerships, and community impact.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland The City of Edinburgh Council Befriending Networks NHS Lothian





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