Earlier this month, our Good Neighbours Scheme team and volunteers from across Bedfordshire gathered at Beds RCC’s Warden Abbey Vineyard to celebrate National Volunteers’ Week in the sunshine.
This joyful afternoon was Beds RCC’s opportunity to thank the incredible Good Neighbour volunteers who dedicate their time and skills year-round to support people locally with transport, shopping, companionship and more. Our new Chief Executive, Cliff Andrews, launched the event with a warm welcome and presented Thank You certificates to each group in attendance.
Reflecting on the spirit of the day, Cliff said:
“One of the many reasons I so love our Good Neighbour Network is that the obvious selflessness shown by so many volunteers is a great antidote to the selfishness we often see in society.”
He added:
One of the great Eric Morecambe’s jokes was: “My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower; I said of course he could, as long as it didn’t leave my garden!” That selfish approach is demonstrably not present within our Good Neighbour Network. It has been said that “a man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbour’s”. It is my hope that in your faithful service of doing good for your clients, you do not neglect being kind to yourselves; and I trust you will continue to benefit yourselves from being Good Neighbour volunteers.
Cliff also shared some inspiring highlights from the past year:
- The network has grown to 44 groups across Bedfordshire, including new groups in Great Barford and Biddenham.
- Wootton Good Neighbours volunteer Malcolm Chalmers received a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours.
- Stondon Good Neighbours expanded their reach to include Henlow.
- Leighton Linslade Helping Hands celebrated their 10th anniversary.
- Barton Helping Hands’ Community Café has become so popular it had to move to larger premises.
The numbers speak volumes: over the past year, nearly 30,000 jobs were carried out by 1,247 volunteers, including over 15,000 driving jobs and nearly 2,000 prescription deliveries. Volunteers also recorded over 8,000 acts of befriending, offering not just help, but heartfelt human connection.
Guests enjoyed a relaxed afternoon with cake, savouries, strawberries and cream, and refreshments kindly donated by Tesco. A guided tour of the vineyard, led by its own volunteers, concluded with tastings of three delicious Bedfordshire wines – including award-winning varieties.
For more information on Good Neighbour groups in Central Beds and Bedford Borough, please contact info@bedsrcc.org.uk or browse our website.