The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. Biggleswade Good Neighbours (BGN) received the award in a ceremony at Biggleswade Baptist Church on Monday 11th July. The ceremony brought together Good Neighbour volunteers, the BRCC Good Neighbour team, and guests of honour to celebrate the award.
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.
When BGN first found out they had been chosen for the award, we spoke to John Robertson, chair of BGN:
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 Neighbour Groups and similar organisations during the pandemic right across Bedfordshire, and, indeed, the whole country.
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis was the guest of hour at the ceremony, and she presented Chair of BGN John Robertson and Vice Chair Dr Erica Seruset Borgstrom with the award. After Lord-Lieutenant Helen Nellis and Dr Erica Seruset Borgstrom gave speeches, other VIPs of the event also shared some words: Deputy CEO of BRCC Cliff Andrews, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Lady Jane Clifford, and Mayor of Biggleswade Cllr Grant Fage.
I am delighted to be here during this very special Platinum Jubilee Year to celebrate this award with you. You are one of just 244 voluntary groups receiving this award. It is an immense achievement of which you should all be very proud.
Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis
Our Good Neighbour Schemes support work is funded by Central Bedfordshire Council, and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Cliff Andrews shared words of thanks towards these two groups, who without their support our work for Good Neighbour groups would not be possible.
Coordinating the Bedfordshire network of Good Neighbour Schemes is a core part of the work of BRCC, something that we are able to do with funding from Central Beds Council and from DEFRA. … The Good Neighbour network service we provide complements our other services, including our Community Agents and Community Wellbeing Champions. That three-pronged support that we’re able to offer to communities really does ensure that no-one in communities is missed out.
Cliff Andrews
A phone call, relieving loneliness or … going and getting shopping and medicine for somebody doesn’t just help that one individual, it’s all of the family that are a support network around that person who can get on with their lives just a little bit easier, knowing that the person is not alone or struggling. … What you do, I think the people of Biggleswade do see and are very grateful for.
Cllr Grant Fage
After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed some refreshments, including a piece of the celebration cakes that were made to mark the occasion.
To join your local Good Neighbours group or find out more, visit our Good Neighbour Schemes page on our website.