A Bournemouth-based charity delivering healthcare for homeless people is to be presented with the UK’s highest award for voluntary service from the King’s representative in Dorset.
Angus Campbell, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, will host a celebration and ceremony to present the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to HealthBus Trust, which provides specialist healthcare in Bournemouth.
The award is the highest a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
It was announced in November 2023 that the award would be presented to HealthBus Trust.
Representatives of HealthBus Trust will receive the crystal award and certificate on May 24.
In addition, two volunteers from the HealthBus attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Christopher Wakefield, HealthBus Chairman, said: “What an honour it is to be recognised in this way.
“I am delighted that the contribution we are making to individual lives and the wider community is acknowledged in such a distinguished way.”
The HealthBus Trust partners with clinical and non-clinical teams to create a wrap-around service that helps people improve their physical and mental health, free themselves from addiction and
move on from homelessness.
The service reduces demand on NHS secondary care and other service providers and collaborates with hospital teams to reduce the ‘revolving door’ syndrome that sees individuals going in and out of hospitals and unregistered patients presenting at A&E.
HealthBus Trust is one of 262 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.