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Local charity receives Queen’s Award for their support during lockdown


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The charity, Westbank, who we work with to deliver a number of community services, has been presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services

The Queen’s representative in Devon, the Lord-Lieutenant for Devon, David Fursdon, presented it to them recently. 

It’s for the amazing work Westbank’s Neighbourhood Friends did during the coronavirus lockdown period. 

The Neighbourhood Friends help vulnerable or frail adults, from Exeter, East and Mid Devon, to stay out of hospital or to have shorter hospital stays. They match volunteers up with people who need help, for example, moving furniture so that there’s room for hospital beds or other equipment in their home; installing key safes so that care workers can gain access; and providing company and a warm drink to people following a stay in hospital. 

Over the lockdown period, they helped around 2,030 people.    Jenny Luscombe, the charity’s longest serving volunteer said: 

“It was such a pleasure to meet the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and an honour to have received The Queen’s Award, which is the equivalent of receiving an MBE for people like myself who give their time to volunteer.” 


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