Following continued hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biggleswade Good Neighbours (BGN) has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Queenās Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. 244 groups received the award in 2022, and BGN was one of the four groups to receive the award from Bedfordshire.
We spoke to John Robertson, chair of BGN, who said:
It’s an honour that our group was chosen in particular. It’s a great testament to the hard work put in by all our volunteers. I would like to think of it as a recognition of all the hard work put in by the volunteers of all the Good Neighour Groups and similar organisations during the pandemic right across Bedfordshire, and, indeed, the whole country.
BedsRCC supports a network of over 40 Good Neighbour Schemes in both Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. Biggleswade Good Neighbours has been a key part of the community, providing lifts to appointments, gardening, and befriending, amongst other help.
During the pandemic, BGN had to adapt to help clients in new ways, as many were shielding and so unable to leave their houses for shopping and prescriptions.
BedsRCC would like to say a huge congratulations to BGN for the award. The continued support the group has provided over the past 8 years has been hugely beneficial to the local community and changed many lives.
The BGN group will be presented with the award at a ceremony on 11th July by the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.
To join your local Good Neighbours group or find out more, visit our Good Neighbour Schemes page on our website.