ON Thursday 26^th January at the Palace of Westminster 29 individuals from around the UK were awarded the prestigious British Citizen Award for their exceptional endeavours which have positively impacted communities up and down the country.

The British Citizen Award in partnership with One Stop, is now in its ninth year and recognises an elite group of exceptional individuals in January and July each year. The January 2023 cohort of medalists have collectively been responsible for over £7.25m in fundraising, have impacted over 272,000 individuals, and have been committed to their chosen causes for over 395 years. Each person selected to receive the BCA Medal of Honour as a legacy for their achievements, richly deserves the right to use the letters BCA after their name in perpetual recognition of the nation’s gratitude.

Among the 29 honoured was Gary Neill from Essex, who received the BCA for Services to Volunteering & Charitable Giving.

Gary was presented with his Medal of Honour by Katie Procter, Head of Supported Housing from Founding Sponsors, Places for People and TV presenter and Patron of the BCA, Nick Knowles, who hosted the event. 

Through charity golf days, and fundraising black-tie balls, Gary has raised over £1 million for St Clare Hospice, Harlow; a Hospice that he has supported since its inception and of which he is a Patron. He has also raised money for Farleigh Hospice and Isabel Hospice. 

He has supported local clubs in the community, including bowls and football, and over the years, through many charity golf days, has raised over £200,000 for a variety of local projects. More recently, funds from the Golf Days have been used to help six local children with cerebral palsy, these events alone have raised over £550,000. The money is used to pay for the children’s vital specialist physiotherapy, unavailable through the NHS, which significantly improves their mobility as they grow, and which will lead on to greater independence for them all in the future.

Gary has been a funeral director for 46 years and looked after thousands of bereaved families. He joined family-owned funeral directors, Daniel Robinson & Sons, as managing director, 36 years ago.  He is committed to providing a caring and professional service to the community he serves and has given his time over the years to raise money for very many good causes. 

Gary said: “Thank you to everyone who has sent me their best wishes following the announcement that I was to receive a British Citizens Award.  I had a lovely day at the formal event on Thursday and felt honoured to be amongst the small group of people to receive this Award.

For me, helping others every day has become a way of life. It’s what I was taught to do, and I just want to make a difference where I can.  I care about people, and believe in supporting the community where I live and work.

“I am fortunate to work with a group of like-minded, dedicated and committed people and would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to them for their continued help and support”.

Immediately following the formal presentations, the medalists and their families boarded an open top bus for the Lap of Honour Tour courtesy of Big Bus London. After taking in some of the iconic sights of the capital they disembarked at Church House in Westminster for a Certificate of Honour presentation. The certificates, presented by representatives from One Stop, Specsavers, Places for People, P&G, completed the official BCA proceedings. Each of the organisations associated with the BCA reflects the community spirit and care for the community that the medalists are recognised for.    

The British Citizen Award was established in 2015 to recognise exceptional individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on their communities and society. The BCA recognises true community heroes who would otherwise likely be overlooked. Dubbed ‘The People’s Honours’, the BCA has so far recognised over 450 exceptional individuals for their divergent endeavours, making them a very exclusive group of the nation’s favourites. 

Anyone with an MBE, OBE or Knighthood is ineligible for a BCA having already been deemed to have received recognition, however, anyone receiving the BCA can still be nominated for the other honours. Nominations can be made a www.britishcitizenawards.co.uk