Houghton Regis Helpers, a group of volunteers providing Good Neighbour help, based in Houghton Regis, have been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Houghton Regis Helpers were launched in December 2011, with support from Houghton Regis Town Council and Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, as one of the first town Good Neighbour schemes in Central Bedfordshire. Volunteers provide support and help for residents in need, ranging from befriending, shopping, collecting prescriptions and lifts to medical appointments, to gardening, form-filling, light DIY, advice and advocacy.
During the Covid pandemic the group saw an exponential rise in requests for support, especially from residents who were shielding. The group arranged for PPE and, under strict social distancing guidelines, carried out many shopping trips, prescription collections, phone calls and occasional home visits to socially isolated residents to check they were okay.
Since the pandemic requests for help have continued to rise and this year volunteers will have carried out over 4000 jobs, supporting almost 400 residents, their families and other professionals. As a local service in Houghton Regis the group work closely with other local community and professional organisations.
Houghton Regis Helpers is one of 262 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 fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.
The King’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 Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award. Recipients are announced annually on 14th November, The King’s Birthday.
Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a social support network for disabled adults in Banffshire; a charity using a refurbished pool as a community hub in south Wales; volunteer doctors providing pre-hospital care across rural Cumbria and a village renewal organisation promoting sustainability, equality and social inclusion in County Antrim.
Representatives of Houghton Regis Helpers will receive the award crystal and certificate from Susan Lousada, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, at a local ceremony later in 2024. This prestigious award represents a tremendous achievement and a great honour and is testament to the amazing work of Houghton Regis Helpers volunteers and all they do to support the community.
Beds RCC supports a network of almost 40 Good Neighbour Schemes in both Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. To join your local Good Neighbours group or find out more, visit our Good Neighbour Schemes page on our website.