The Bridge for Heroes, a Lynn charity that provides vital support to the veterans community, has received a prestigious award.
The charity's team volunteers have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity has quickly responded by reconfiguring their usual ‘drop-in’ approach to an ‘out-reach’ service. Volunteers have managed to provide an even wider range of support ranging from the delivery of essential provisions and prescriptions, to offering person to person advice and well-being support for those suffering the most from self-isolation. The charity has also invested in a new online chat and webinar services enabling veterans to maintain contact with their friends at the charity and their peer group.
James Wild MP, said -
I’m proud to support the Bridge for Heroes and their inspiring efforts to assist those who’ve served our country.
By adapting their model in this crisis, Mike and all the brilliant volunteers have shown the agility which defines our Armed Forces to help people in need in West Norfolk."
The Bridge for Heroes was set up just over 10 years ago, to provide help and support to those in the veteran community most in need, many of whom were finding the adjustment from service life to the civilian community difficult to manage. Since it started it has supported well over 1,000 veterans in a multitude of ways, from dealing with housing and benefit issues, to supporting those struggling mental health problems.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on the 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
The Bridge for Heroes is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
For more details visit https://www.thebridgeforheroes.org/
