Congratulations to Stotfold Good Neighbour Group, which has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025! This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Stotfold Good Neighbour Group is one of only 231 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the country to receive the prestigious award this year and the only one from Bedfordshire.
The group formed in December 2012, with support from Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (Beds RCC), with the volunteers getting together to offer their time and skills to help fellow residents of Stotfold, Fairfield and Astwick.
Help includes lifts to the doctors or hospital (sometimes as far away as Huntingdon and Cambridge); shopping; indoor tasks such as changing a light bulb; and popping round to visit those in need of some company and a chat. As well as assisting the residents who call the group’s helpline, the group also runs chair-based exercise classes and a social club called “Friends on Friday”.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Stotfold Good Neighbour Group charity is the third of Beds RCC’s network of Good Neighbour groups to be awarded this honour – with Biggleswade Good Neighbours recognised in the final year of the Queen’s Award, followed by Houghton Regis Helpers recognised in the first year of the King’s Award. There are currently 44 Good Neighbour groups operating across Bedfordshire – each one run by insured and DBS-checked local volunteers committed to making the lives of their more vulnerable fellow-residents happier and more connected.
Representatives of Stotfold Good Neighbour Group will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mrs. Susan Lousada – H.M. Lord-Lieutenant for Bedfordshire – in April 2026. Two volunteers from Stotfold Good Neighbour Group will be invited to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May or June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
The Chair of Stotfold Good Neighbour Group, John Talbot, said: “I’m delighted our group’s work has been recognised. The hard work and commitment of all our volunteers has a considerable positive effect on the wellbeing and mental health of our local community.”
Photos copyright Jo King at Stotfold News.