Bear Grylls has praised King Alfred School Academy Scout Leader Lizzie Harvey after the big-hearted English teacher missed her Easter wedding due to the Coronavirus pandemic and instead has been helping people affected by the virus.
Lizzie is using skills learned at King Alfred School Academy and as a school-based scout leader to be the Coronavirus frontline leader of 500 volunteers locally.
Her scheduled wedding on Easter Saturday with a honeymoon to the Hebrides was postponed and instead Lizzie set up a not-for-profit group which is helping thousands of people suffering directly or indirectly by Covid-19.
Lizzie and her ‘Clevedon Aid – C.I.C.’ group delivers essential food and prescriptions to residents across North Somerset.
It collects and delivers Personal Protective Equipment to all all the care-homes, GPs and the MIUs.
They are running extra collection days in partnership with Foodbanks and are working on a project with local businesses to provide hot meals to families in need. Among a host of other help to residents, they have also set up a mental health and well-being check-in service.
The English teacher helped set up Britain’s first secondary school-based scout group at King Alfred School in Highbridge last year, endorsed by Bear Grylls and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
She is also among a select few to be awarded the prestigious the Queen’s Scout Award as a young person and has risen the ranks of the organisation.
This week Bear Grylls praised Lizzie, her colleagues and others like her for their selfless acts in times of hardship.
Bear Grylls said: “We are all so proud of Lizzie and her friends. Being a scout is all about helping others, and helping the community, and these skills are vital in crisis’ such as the one we are in at the moment.”
“Well done to Lizzie and all those who are doing similar selfless acts at this time of hardship.”
Lizzie, who is now volunteering for seven 12-hour days a week, said: “It is a privilege to help. I was due to celebrating my honeymoon now but this is a global crisis and this is so much more important.”
“I’m drawing hourly on my skills learned as a teacher and scout leader, with regards to leadership, dealing with a crisis, safeguarding the vulnerable, and so many ways.”
“Teaching is the best job in the world and I love being able to continue being a scout leader to help develop young people further.”
“The school values and the scout values are the same. It’s always about helping other people whenever and whenever we can.”
The organisation is now the central hub supporting all aid being delivered by charities and outlets in the area, as well as with authorities such as Avon and Somerset police, the NHS, social services and care providers at state level.
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