‘Blood Bikes’ Volunteers Honoured By Queen

Leicestershire and Rutland Blood Bikes has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Volunteers have been recognised for their work in delivering blood and other medical products to hospitals and to air ambulance crews at the scenes of emergencies.

Most of the group’s 70 volunteers were inspired to offer their services, after having personal experiences which highlighted the importance of getting life-saving products to where they are needed as soon as possible.

As well as blood products, pathology samples, patient notes, scans and x-rays, they also deliver donor milk to hospitals so newborn babies can be fed if the mother cannot provide any or enough of her own.

Oliver Cufflin, Chairman, says: “The group is extremely delighted and wholly humbled to receive this award, and it is a testament to each and every one of our wonderful volunteers, who have now been officially recognised at the highest level for their ongoing hard work and commitment.”

Blood Bikes will receive a crystal trophy and a certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Michael Kapur OBE, later this summer.

In addition, two lucky volunteers have been invited to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace in May next year.

The organisation is one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the Queen’s award this year.

Blood Bikes volunteers

Meanwhile, Menphys, a charity supporting Children and Young People with Disabilities across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland has also been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

For over 50 years, Menphys has been providing a range of holistic, impartial, and specialist services to families, funded through our own resources and in partnership with statutory authorities and other voluntary sector groups.

Jennifer, Lady Gretton, President of Menphys, said: I am absolutely delighted that Menphys has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is testament to the work of so many people, in particular our outstanding team of volunteers, who have been providing support and greater choices to local children and their families for over 50 years.”