SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbikes receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2022.

SERV Herts and Beds, a group of volunteers based in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire have just been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2022. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE for organisations such as our own.

The volunteer group supports the NHS and local Hospices and Donor Milk Banks, by providing a H24, 365 days a year service, delivering Blood, Donor Milk, Prescriptions, Urgent Samples and equipment, totally free of charge.

 SERV Herts and Beds are one of 244 UK 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 in which fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. The Queen’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 The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

 Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including: a rural support group for farmers in Shropshire; a community magazine addressing isolation in the Western Isles; a running club engaging all ages in County Tyrone; a film academy and community hub based in South Wales, and a food bank in Greater London feeding vulnerable individuals and providing training opportunities.

 Representatives of SERV Herts and Beds will receive the award crystal and certificate from Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE CStJ later this summer. In addition, two volunteers from SERV Herts and Beds will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2023, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

 Chair of SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbikes, Ian Hunt, responded by saying just say how delighted he is that the groups work has been recognised, and to pay tribute for the tremendous effort maintained during Covid lockdowns, covering so much of the group volunteer costs personally, and simply giving so much time without any question to help others.

 There can be no doubt, as one of the many incredible Blood Bike groups across the UK who all say, 'It's What We Do'.