We are thrilled that Joshua Hale has been presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year 2021 Honours List.
After having previously been awarded the High Sheriff Special Recognition Award by the High Sheriff of Somerset for his outstanding contribution to the Somerset community and for his acts of thoughtfulness and kindness during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020, our Volunteer Coordinator Joshua Hale has now been presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year 2021 Honours List.
The award means that Josh’s tireless efforts and his meritorious civil service since the outbreak of the Coronavirus have been recognised by the Crown. The medal was established in 1922 and is presented by a Lord-Lieutenant on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters BEM and the honour is for awarded for a ‘hands-on’ service to the local community that has made a significant difference or in recognition of military service. Past recipients include singer and rapper Lady Leshurr, actor Frederick Treves, Hall of Fame swimmer Jane Asher, and hip hop duo Krept and Konan.
Since the start of the outbreak, Josh has been working tirelessly around the clock to support more than 2,000 volunteers who signed up to volunteer with 3SG in response to Covid-19. 3SG is the 3rd Sector infrastructure organisation for Bath and North East Somerset and supports local community groups, charities and social enterprises in and around Bath.
Josh led the 3SG Befriending scheme and worked together with partnership organisations to create and distribute physical wellbeing packs to adults across B&NES who don’t have internet access. Joshua also ramped up 3SG’s social media and website with some amazing graphics and motivating content. After investing over four months of ten plus hour days over seven days a week with 3SG, Joshua has now returned to his job here at the SU but is still supporting 3SG on a variety of things including the new compassionate community connector training which he has co-written and is delivering regularly.
Speaking about being presented with this outstanding achievement, Josh says: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. It came as a complete shock and I am very excited. It feels very surreal as to me all I did was lend my skill set to a charity who asked for help. Although difficult a lot of the time, I really enjoyed working with 3SG and look forward to developing the 3SG - SU partnership. I am also incredibly grateful for Anna and the SU for supporting me to help 3SG and for Sarah Williams Martin, without whom I would not have been able to do what I did. James at 3SG also needs to be mentioned for being a fantastic manager who entrusted me to deliver what needed to be done”.
Huge congratulations to Josh from everyone at The SU.