Matthew Bridger, a 23-year-old philanthropist from Ashford, has been honoured with an invitation to the King’s garden party. Matthew who is from Ashford, Kent and serves as a councillor on Kennington Community Council and Trustee of various charities across the United Kingdom, received the invitation by post this week.
In January this year, Matthew was honoured to have been awarded the Points of Light Award by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his exceptional community service and volunteerism. He was also recently announced as an entrant in Young Business Person of the Year as well as the Entrepreneur of the Year categories at the Staffordshire University Business Awards with winners being announced towards the end of the year.
Matthew will be travelling to London with his grandfather Peter, who will be joining him at the garden party. With just three of these prestigious events held each year, it’s a remarkable opportunity to meet members of the Royal Family and other individuals who have made significant positive impacts in their communities.
Mr. Bridger is known in Ashford for his role with the annual campaign, The Little House Project to support the homeless in Kent and as a community councillor and working in various other roles.
He said: “Service and volunteering have become integral parts of my life, leading me on an incredibly rewarding journey to contribute wherever and however I can. I’m attending the event as an individual but for me I am there representing all the remarkable individuals who have been part of my endeavours and express my heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions. Being part of a community that shares a common vision for a better world is a true blessing, and I’m deeply thankful for the opportunity to contribute to our community.”
The garden party is on May 21st at Buckingham Palace.
Garden parties are hosted each year and see thousands of guests from around the UK invited to spend an afternoon in the gardens. They are seen as a way of recognising and rewarding public service around the country.
The King uses a network of sponsors, including Lord Lieutenants, societies and associations, government departments, local government, the armed services, the Church and other faiths, to invite guests. These bodies nominate guests for an invitation and allow for a cross-section of society to attend the parties each year. At the parties, members of the Royal Family attend and circulate among the guests, with everyone having a chance to speak to one of the royals.
Guests are free to eat, drink and stroll around the palace gardens at the event.
