ACTIVE and in Touch volunteers have been awarded the Somerset Medal for their work tackling isolation and loneliness in the community.
This is the third time this year that the charity has been recognised for its work – it was honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in June, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK; and at the beginning of the year, was named Frome Times’ Group of the Year 2020 for its work during the national lockdowns.
The Somerset Medal, an award presented by Somerset County Council to the county’s unsung heroes, was accepted by Active and In Touch’s service manager, Dougie Brown, on behalf of the charity’s volunteers, at a ceremony held in Taunton Rugby Club.
Active and In Touch was recognised for its aim to tackle isolation and loneliness of adults in Frome and the surrounding villages.
A spokesperson for the Somerset Medal awards said, “By doing this they help to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and, therefore, our community. This has been a particularly noteworthy year to have to tackle these issues.
“During the pandemic Active and In Touch has seen a three-fold increase in numbers of members and volunteers, with increased activity to those who gave been shielding, shopping, delivery of prescriptions and safe lifts to vaccination centres. They raised their game at the right time in order to help others.”
The Somerset Medal, newly designed, is to say a “heartfelt thank you to the best of the best groups”, which are nominated by the people and presented on behalf of the people of Somerset.
Chairman of Somerset County Council, cllr Nick Taylor, who presented the awards, recognised Active and In Touch and all the groups receiving the Somerset Medal as “doing extraordinary things in very challenging times” and was pleased to be “able to recognise and reward the amazing things they have done for us”.
He said, “They went out of their way to ensure Somerset kept going during the pandemic.”
Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, and Guest of Honour representing the Queen, Annie Maw, shared that she “felt so inspired by all of these unsung heroes – they don’t just think about it, they go out and do it. They care and they’re generous.”
Picture: Chairman of Somerset County Council, cllr Nick Taylor presents the Somerset Medal and certificate to Active and In Touch’s Dougie Brown.
