Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company, a social enterprise company founded in 2014 by mother and daughter duo Janice Davis and Romanah Malcolm ,consisting of a group of volunteers based in Birmingham have just been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Eloquent is an organisation like no other with a true heart's passion for young people, community and purpose. We are committed to training quality performers in a variety of dance genres to maintain versatility whilst nurturing our members to become the best possible version of themselves through empowerment and mentoring opportunities.
Our organisation provides a variety of services ranging from dance classes, performing arts workshops, events, theatre shows, empowerment workshops, mentoring and much more. In addition to that, Eloquent takes pride in providing excellent opportunities for growth through performance opportunities, national and international competitions, dance examinations, professional industry work and so much more. Eloquent continues to trailblaze a pathway for dance, performing arts and empowerment to co-exist within our community and beyond.
Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company is one of 244 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local
volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The
Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the
anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully
diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK.
Representatives of Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company will receive the award crystal and certificate from John Crabtree, Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from Eloquent will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Romanah (26) , Artistic Director says: I am absolutely overjoyed and delighted that our organisation’s work has been recognised. We have been working with young people within the West Midlands region for the past 8 years and our group of volunteers, many who have been serving with us from the very beginning of our journey, serve from their hearts in order to make an impact on the lives of many. This award is huge for our organisation but also gives us the motivation to continue the incredible work we are doing as a team. I can't wait to see what doors this opens for us as we continue to grow and look to expand the organisation over the next couple of months!
Janice (46) , Managing Director says: On behalf of our Eloquent Family of Volunteers we are elated and honoured to be receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, this is highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. We are grateful and thankful for all our amazing volunteers, who have worked with myself and Romanah in serving the community and supporting over 150 youth weekly with complete passion and enthusiasm.
Our volunteer team of 15, have been serving for 8 years plus and we are excited to do another 8 with no hesitation. There is nothing greater than supporting our young people allowing them to strive in becoming the greatest versions of themselves possible. When we first started Eloquent we had no idea that our hard work and dedication of the whole team would lead us to being recognised with such a prestigious award that any volunteering organisation can receive. Everything we do for our young people is led by our hearts giving eloquent family of volunteers and this award recognises their efforts above all. Together we have helped some of the most vulnerable young people and especially during such a time as the pandemic when they needed the support most of all. We are ecstatic and completely blown away to be chosen and honoured, what a way to celebrate the Queens Jubilee with such a prestigious award earmarked at such a perfect time.
ELOQUENT TEAM
From left to right, Nathan Turner( Advisory Board), Samantha Williams(Prayer Team), Akilah Duffus(Support Team), Ann Marie( Admin Team), Omar Buchanan( Support Team), Dino Maxwell( Safeguarding Lead), Janice Davis( Director), Romanah Malcolm (Director), Thelma Griffiths (Safeguarding Lead), Sharon Mahon (Lead Chaperone) and Natalie Night( Mentor).
