Plymouth man honoured with coveted British Citizen Award

Steve Whiteway, from Plymouth, Devon has been recognised at the Palace of Westminster with a British Citizen Award in recognition of his extraordinary endeavours.

The British Citizen Award, in partnership with One Stop, is now in its fifth year and recognises exceptional individuals who positively impact their communities throughout the country. 

Steve was honoured for his services to the community with a BCAc, at an official medal presentation held on 23rdJanuary 2020.

Steve has been a volunteer for over 50 years and has raised £750,000, making a difference to thousands of people’s lives.  

Steve took on the role as Resources Development Manager, for ‘Improving Lives’, a Plymouth based charity which runs information, advice and support services for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.  

Steve came up with the idea that as the charity was celebrating 110 years, to launch the ‘110 Club’ with business members joining in the knowledge that they are supporting a worthwhile charity. With Steve at the helm the success has been phenomenal with the first 110 Founder Members signing up in the first few months and more organisations joining daily to help those in the community with disabilities.

Steve has raised around £750,000 benefitting over 160 charities during his 50-year volunteering career. His parents were caring people within the community, always full of fun and Steve has undoubtedly inherited these virtues.  At the age of eight he really started thinking about how he could help others and went out entertaining in old people’s homes in the local community, playing the piano and raising money and smiles.  This was the start of over 50 years working for his local community.

The Medal presentation was hosted at the House of Lord’s by TV’s Michael Underwood who, together with Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers, is a patron of the British Citizen Award, which was established in 2015.

Steve was presented his medal from Jonny McQuarrie, Managing Director of Partners One Stop, who said: “From a young age Steve has put the needs of others first and his tireless work in helping the community is inspiring. 

“Steve’s half century of charity service has led to an exceptional amount of money being raised for an array of charities and his latest venture the ‘110 Club’ looks set to be another huge success.

“It gives me the greatest of pleasure to award Steve such a prestigious medal and title for his continued charitable commitments."

Each medallist received a Medal of Honour, inscribed with the words ‘For the Good of the Country’. Medals were presented by Senior Representatives from official partner One Stop and sponsors Places for People, Specsavers, Experian and Objective HR who all support these awards. 

The British Citizen Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday people for exceptional endeavor and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.