The three voluntary groups in Fermanagh that have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK, have been described as "exceptional" by Viscount Brookeborough.
The groups, which are all well known to the community here, are the Aisling Centre, Fermanagh Talking Newspaper Association and Enniskillen Royal Boat Club.
The awardees are three of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them. 
Viscount Brookeborough commented: "I am delighted that the work of these three exceptional groups has been recognised in this way. The assessments for the Award are very rigorous and our assessors were impressed by the calibre and commitment of each of the groups during the assessment visits. We very much hope that we will see more excellent groups nominated for the award in the future."
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Fermanagh’s award winners illustrate the wonderful diversity of volunteering in the county and a dedicated commitment to service for the local community.
Established in 1990, the Aisling Centre is dedicated to the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Through the delivery of a wide range of support services, including counselling and psychotherapy, to both adults and children, Aisling is now a crucial hub for mental support services in the County, many of which would not otherwise be available in this marginalised rural area.
For the past 40 years, Fermanagh Talking Newspaper Association has brought the local news to the visually impaired in Fermanagh. By providing weekly audio recordings from the local newspapers, through a team of volunteer readers and technicians at their base at the Drumcoo Day Centre, FTNA is a vital lifeline to many who are elderly and marginalised.
Enniskillen Royal Boat Club (formerly Portora) provides rowing and competition to students at post primary schools in Fermanagh. Following the Enniskillen Bomb in 1987 the club broadened its remit to include boys – and later girls – from all schools, across the religious divide. Through its dedicated volunteer coaches and parents support group, the Club has motivated many young rowers to aspire to and achieve success at both national and international level.
Representatives of the groups will receive their awards from Viscount Brookeborough, Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from each group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s award.