Members of the Isle of Wight’s Community Bus Partnership have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Currently, the Partnership provides Route 22, 24, and 32 buses covering Newchurch, Apse Heath, Lake and Shanklin (22); Lake, Sandown, Yaverland and Shanklin (24) and Northwood, Gurnard and Cowes (32).
Alan Scott, Community Bus co-ordinator, has said:
“We are delighted to receive this award and the recognition is for all of the voluntary drivers, past present and future, that have given their time, and countless cold and rainy days, to provide a much needed service for residents of the Island”.
Ian Ward BEM, one of the founder members of the project and the managing director of the partnership adds:
“The service has continued throughout the pandemic maintaining a vital service for isolated residents, and many volunteers have also helped with delivering medications and shopping for those isolating, and their hard work is more than worthy of this recognition”.
The Community Bus Partnership is 1 of 241 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.
The Queens 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.
Representatives from the Community Bus Partnership will receive the award crystal and certificate from Susie Sheldon, Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, later this summer. Furthermore, 2 volunteers from the Community Bus Partnership will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022, along with other recipients of this years’ Award.
Alan Stott concludes:
“All involved with the Community Bus Partnership, including Richard and the Team at Southern Vectis, as well as Stewart at the Isle of Wight Council, are delighted that the hard work, dedication and commitment of our volunteers have been recognised, and thanks to those that nominated the team for valuing the difference they make to people’s lives”.
Well done to you all