Awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest level of award a group of individuals can receive, Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes truly deserve this prestigious award.
Servicing the NHS 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, transporting blood, organs, tissues and human milk across Merseyside and Cheshire, the group are only 1 of 4 charities chosen to of won this award out of a pool of 4000 charities in Chester.
Made up of 122 volunteers that work around the clock to help support the NHS. By transporting blood, organs, tissue samples and breast milk to and from several hospitals within Liverpool and Cheshire. MCBB all have their very own jobs, commitments and families – but in their spare time they pull on their Hi-Viz jackets to help provide a service to the NHS, saving them hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, with their work and the impact of what they deliver is felt across country.
Starting in 2012 with a small group of volunteers, completing roughly 50 rides per month, to now where anywhere between 500-500 rides are completed on a monthly basis, transporting lifesaving samples across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Working with hospitals such as Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Marie Curie, Whiston Hospital and Warrington General, the team of volunteers spends their free time answering calls and dispatching riders.
When duty calls outside of their area, the MCBB are always on hand (or bike) to support. Making crucial ‘relay runs’ with neighbouring Blood Bike groups, they have helped deliver vital blood to not only Merseyside and Cheshire, but to Birmingham and South Wales too.
Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes are one of few charities where no one is paid. Every penny raised is put to use helping keep the efforts of this incredible charity moving.
Representatives from MCBB attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes are one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
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. Winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteers helping people overcome mental health problems through sport, volunteers using caravans as mobile cafe/information centres in geographically remote locations and another group mentoring children who have a parent in prison.
On 2nd August MCBB attended a private ceremony conducted by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, who presented the volunteers with the prestigious award. Celebrating together as a group, sharing in delight of their hard work and rejoicing in their award. This group of people make such a huge difference to the NHS and their patients.
And if you were to ask any of the MCBB why they are dedicated, passionate and driven in helping make a difference, their response will be…. It’s what we do. A tag line they have now adopted, that is so aptly fitting for this group.
Simon Dennett, Chairman of the MCBB said
“This award has brought a very much deserved boost to our members, their dedication and commitment without hope of reward is humbling to witness. Their passion in the service we deliver have been recognised by her Majesty. The entire group is bursting with pride and we look forward to the recognition which accompanies it”
Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes would like to thank everyone who has supported their cause over the past 7 years. Without the support of everyday people and businesses they would be unable to continue their work. This charity relies solely on donations to help change people’s lives.
