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Nicholson congratulates local victims' group for Queen's Award.

Jim Nicholson MEP, Conservatives and Unionists Euro candidate has congratulated the South East Fermanagh Foundation on wining the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Mr. Nicholson recently visited the Victims group during his election campaign and was greatly impressed by their achievements.

In a statement Mr. Nicholson said:

"To be recognised by the Queen in this way is a great honour to the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF). Having visited the group recently and having seen at first hand the excellent work that they do, I know that it is richly deserved.

The Foundation has steadily grown over the last ten years and it now offers a full range of services to victims of the Troubles. These services include a welfare/benefits advice service, multiple alternative therapy treatment options, befriending support services, counselling, a full educational and training programme, respite support and a raft of other advocacy and representation-based work.

The work that the SEFF, and other victims groups do, is of crucial importance to helping some of the most traumatised people in Northern Ireland deal with the past and rebuild their lives in a positive way. Victims groups are also vitally important for helping the wider community progress and come to terms with over 30 years of violence.

I would like to offer my congratulations to all the other winners from Northern Ireland who are leaders within our voluntary sector. Without people actively and positively giving up their own time to help others, many peoples' quality of life would be greatly diminished. Northern Ireland has a brilliant voluntary sector that contributes greatly to society and we should all be grateful for their continued efforts.