Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh's visit

In 2019 we were delighted to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). Equivalent to an MBE, it is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK. The award recognises groups that are truly outstanding and making a big difference to their local community. Groups where volunteers, rather than paid staff, are in the driving seat; those that have highest standards in everything they do.

We recently welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh to our beautiful retreat so that he could meet with some of our volunteers and learn more about what we do and why we were so deserving of this award 5 years ago. The sun was shining so it was a perfect day to showcase every aspect of how The Ripple Retreat supports families and is meticulously maintained through the extensive efforts of our brilliant volunteers.

This visit solidifies our continued commitment to keep volunteering at the heart of what we do and to ensure our standards and processes are always of an exceptional standard. Here is what Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh had to say about his visit -

“Its good 2 give received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019, and I was delighted to visit the volunteers and the Ripple Retreat on Thursday 19th September 2024.

The Award, continues to be a badge of honour and quality, and underlines the high-quality of everyday work that volunteers and the organisation undertakes now and for the future in  supporting families experiencing the trauma of young people affected by cancer.

 I was pleased to receive an update on how things are going, and I was very impressed by the wonderful Retreat facility, the remarkable setting, the first-class accommodations, and deeply impressed by the dedication, care, and compassion of the volunteers and the stories of how they often go ‘above and beyond’ to assist young people and families.

 On behalf of the City of Edinburgh, I want to once again, thank Chair Louise Caithness, the Board and all of the volunteers involved in Its Good 2 Give, for their time, for their efforts, and for their empathy, in making sure that services provided in the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People, the Ripple Retreat, and in other places, are the best that they can be, for sick children and families going through challenging times, and for responding quickly to requests for additional help and support in Edinburgh and beyond.

I also want to express my gratitude to Founder and former Chair Lynne McNicol OBE MCIOF, who dedicated so much of her time and energy to developing the charity, mentoring volunteers, broadening services, shaping the Retreat, and engaging with so many sector leaders in raising substantial volumes of funds. Along with many others, I wish Lynne a very happy and deserved retirement, and I hope that she gets more time to enjoy with family and friends and in pursuing leisure activities. Lynne leaves a remarkable legacy, and alongside the Queen’s Award certification, and the Retreat, there is a strong and firm foundation for the charity to maintain and build upon.

As the Board and volunteers together look to the future, I am certain that Its Good 2 Give will continue to provide high-quality support to young people and their families affected by cancer, enabling them to be independent, and to be a family. I also hope that all volunteers can continue their contribution, and can enjoy being active and part of such a delightful team.”