Involve Awarded Honorary Freedom of the Borough on Behalf of the Voluntary Sector

Involve are proud to have been awarded an Honorary Freedom of the Borough in recognition of the exceptional contributions made by the voluntary sector in supporting the community during the Covid-19 pandemic, presented by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) on Thursday 6^th March.

During an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, MBC Counsellors recognised the commitment of key workers throughout the pandemic by presenting the honour to representatives from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, One Maidstone Business Improvement District (BID) and Involve, on behalf of the public, private and voluntary sector.

With the Covid-19 Day of Reflection taking place on Sunday 9^th March, the evening served as an opportunity to reflect on those who have been affected by the pandemic and to acknowledge the dedicated work and resilience of those working on the frontline.

Reflecting on receiving the honour, Gary Wells, CEO of Involve said: “This award is a testament to the incredible dedication and compassion demonstrated by the staff and volunteers across the voluntary sector during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. In the first four weeks of the pandemic, we had such a flood of people wanting to volunteer and put themselves on the frontline, and a huge amount of respect goes to those who became involved in the efforts. Your dedication helped to strengthen the fabric of our communities.”

Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, commented on the honour, saying: “Covid changed and affected our communities deeply, and during this time of deep anxiety, sadness and loss, it was the key workers who risked their lives to keep us all safe. The Honorary Freedom of the Borough is granted in recognition of this heroism, and I hope that the recipients of this award use it as an opportunity to reflect on their sacrifices and take pride in the efforts they made during the lockdowns.”