We’re thrilled to announce that our Founder and CEO, Andrew Baker BCAv, has been awarded a ‘Points of Light Award‘ by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in honour of his work with Play2Give and in tribute to dedicating half of his life to fundraising for good causes.
The Prime Minister’s ‘Points of Light’ honours outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community.
The ‘Points of Light’ award acknowledges volunteers across the United Kingdom who make a difference in society. The awards are administered by the Prime Minister’s office, in collaboration with the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
Every week day the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer, and we are delighted that our very own founder has been recognised by Boris Johnson as the 1,290th recipient of this prestigious award.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to Andrew, saying: “I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how your fundraising over the past 18 years, in tribute to the treatment you received as a child born with a brain injury, has transformed services at Oxford Children’s Hospital and supported causes throughout the county.”
Finding out about the award win on 23rd December in an email, and the award announced on 3rd January, accepting the award, Andrew said: “I feel incredibly honoured and humbled to have been chosen by the Prime Minister to receive the Points of Light award. It is a true pleasure. Giving back and helping others means a lot to me, for all the care and treatment I have received, it is my way to repay the gift of life so that others less fortunate can benefit. I have worked tirelessly for 18 years to help others and ‘Play2Give’, which I have proudly founded, has continued to grow, changing and saving countless numbers of people’s lives in many ways. I would like to stress that to me this recognition is a ‘team effort’. I would like to dedicate this award to the incredible team of volunteers whom I am lucky to work with and that make ‘Play2Give’ the continued success that it is. I couldn’t do what I do without my team and of course without the fantastic supporters within the community who engage with my fundraising so well. This is a perfect way to honour them all and I wholeheartedly thank the Prime Minister for the recognition of such a special honour.”
David Johnston, MP for Wantage and Didcot, who took up his post in November, said: “I’m delighted that Andrew Baker’s hard work on behalf of many local charities has been recognised. Andrew is an inspiring example of someone who refused to let a disadvantage they were born with hold them back and he has worked tirelessly to give back to his local community, achieving more already than most of us will. It is wonderful that his work has been recognised by the Prime Minister in this way.”
Andrew has been invited to receive his award at Parliament later this month, well done Andy – we are all very proud and extremely pleased for you!
You can find out more about the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award here