Lend A Hand Bahamas
Commonwealth Point of Light 165. Shelagh Farrington-Pritchard
Shelagh Farrington-Pritchard, representing The Bahamas, founded ‘Lend a Hand Bahamas’, which has provided critical relief to local people by distributing essential food and hygiene items following Hurricane Dorian, as well as during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Shelagh set up the initiative in 2014 to boost community development in The Bahamas, and established a community centre in Nassau in 2018, which is supporting more than 200 children and their families every month. This year, in response to COVID-19, Shelagh and her volunteers are currently providing aid to over 50,000 people each week with emergency food assistance.
Sarah Dickson, British High Commissioner in The Bahamas, said:
“Many congratulations to Shelagh Pritchard. Shelagh and the ‘Lend a Hand Bahamas’ team do such terrific work. It has been a tough 18 months, what with Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 and the COVID pandemic. Volunteers have shown how vital they are to society now more than ever. Shelagh’s efforts over the years have made a huge difference to people’s lives and it is fitting that this has been recognised with a Points of Light award from HM The Queen.”
Shelagh said:
“This award came as such a surprise and I am truly honoured to accept the Points of Light recognition on behalf of my organisation ‘Lend a Hand’, which continues to provide a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’ to ‘over the hill’ communities in The Bahamas.”
Pictured above, from right to left: Rosamund Roberts, UK Honorary Consul in The Bahamas; Shelagh Farrington Pritchard, Lend a Hand; Jerusa Ali, Political Attaché, British High Commission Nassau