Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2020

Four voluntary organisations in Bedfordshire, including two in Bedford Borough have been awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities and this year has been awarded to Autism Bedfordshire, Sharnbrook Amateur Theatre Trust, Volunteers of Keech Hospice Care and Luton Irish Forum.

Autism Bedfordshire work closely with autistic people and their families to help break down the barriers to social participation by providing places where they can go and feel comfortable, accepted and not judged by society. With the encouragement and support of specialist trained staff, the charity helps autistic people build their confidence, self-esteem and social skills through taking part in social activities and mixing with other people. Autism Bedfordshire also provide help to improve the prospects of autistic people by developing their practical skills to help them lead independent lives within the community.

Sharnbrook Amateur Theatre Trust are based in Sharnbrook, North Bedfordshire and are entirely owned by a charitable trust. The theatre opened in 1979, although the society pre-dates the theatre by many years. The Theatre Trust produce at least four shows a year with a mixture of drama, musicals and variety, with audiences drawn from both the surrounding area and further afield.

Volunteers of Keech Hospice Care support the Keech Hospice Care which provides free specialist care for adults and children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses supporting them to live pain free and symptom free, to spend quality time with their family & friends, to understand what's happening to them, to stay out of hospital and to make the most of the time they have. The Volunteers of Keech Hospice Care play a pivotal role in the delivery of the services provided and cover a wide range of functions such as working in charity shops, fundraising, providing aquatic therapy, driving patients to the hospice, lifeguarding the pool and maintaining the gardens

Luton Irish Forum were formed in 1997 and now has over 500 members. Initially set up to serve the Irish Community in Luton, the Forum is now an all-inclusive community organisation that serves Luton's diverse vulnerable and socially excluded people. Luton Irish Forum offers activities and events to promote health, wellbeing & cultural awareness, improve quality of life and increase social inclusion. The Forum also provides welfare support through appointments and home visits and offers advice on matters including welfare benefits, housing, community care and debt.