A KIND-HEARTED community leader who has provided thousands of hot meals for families and vulnerable people has been recognised in the New Year Honours.
Indigo Redfern, the CEO of GL11 Community Hub in Cam, has been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community for 2023.
During Covid, the charity supported households across the GL11 area helping vulnerable people with their shopping, prescriptions and provided more than 7,000 hot meals.
Indigo, who started working at GL11 in 2014, admitted to the Gazette that she deleted the email about her MBE nomination because she mistook it for spam.
“I first got an email about the MBE back in November and I thought it was spam so I just deleted it. I didn't think it could possibly be true,” she said.
“Then just a couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from the cabinet office.
“It seems so unlikely and incredible but it's actually true!
“It's just a huge honour and I'm so delighted to accept it on behalf of our local community, our staff and all our volunteers.
“The work of our fabulous community centre is now being acknowledged and that feels so heartwarming.
The GL11 Community Project, which started over 21 years ago, was formed when Cam’s Family Centre closed.
Recently, the charity has established warm hubs, a community pantry and a cost-of-living-support day by collaborating with partner agencies and their dedicated volunteers.
Indigo added: “Our community has had an outpouring of kindness, with everyone pulling together which first happened during Covid.
“That is now happening again with the cost of living crisis.”
“We are delivering again now to help our community through the cost of living crisis.
“This honour is for everyone in Cam and Dursley who helps make that happen.”
GL11 has organised nine warm spaces in Cam and Dursley which are open every day apart from Tuesdays on a rota which includes: Kingshill House, the Chantry Centre, Dursley Tabernacle, St George's Church, Dursley Methodist Church, Dursley Community Centre, 3C Community Church and GL11 Warm Cafe.
You find out more about our GL11’s community hub’s daily events and activities here - https://www.gl11.org.uk/whats-on-guide
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