A community worker who coordinated the Saxmundham community’s emergency response during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, has been honoured for her service.
Bryony Peall has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours List for Services to the Community in Saxmundham.
She was engaged by Saxmundham Town Council in March 2020, to work with newly formed local charity IP17 Good Neighbour Scheme (IP17GNS).
She set up a support system for the local community, including a prescription collection and delivery service, shopping, emergency food parcels and a telephone support service to help combat loneliness for the most vulnerable members of the community.
Ms Peall helped recruit and organise a network of 150 local volunteers helping the most vulnerable members of the community.
From 2021, she was directly employed by IP17GNS charity to develop numerous services to support the community.
Ms Peall said: “When I heard the news I felt humbled, it is hard to believe possible that my work has been recognised in this way.
"What we achieved during this time would have never have been possible without the tremendous support I had from our volunteers, and the many local organisations and donors, who never seemed to say no to me, even when I felt that I was asking the impossible.”
Jeremy Smith, who was Chair of Saxmundham Town Council in 2020, said: “When the Covid crisis struck, we needed an exceptional person with deep roots in our community to galvanise and deliver support to those at risk or isolated.
"We looked straight away to Bryony, who we were sure had the qualities, and she rose magnificently to the challenge.
"We’re delighted that her crucial contribution to our town and community has been recognised in this award.”
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