Amazon gives Bedford children's charity cash boost to help it during pandemic

A children’s charity based in Bedford has received a donation of £2,000 from Amazon as it continues to reopen its services following the impact of Covid-19.

The staff and volunteers at Barnardo’s Young People Independent Visitors received a £1,000 cash donation and a donation of play materials worth £1,000 from the Amazon team.

The Bedford Borough Independent Visitors service recruits and trains volunteers to become independent visitors and matches them with young people so they can befriend, advise and support.

The donation is part of a longstanding relationship between the Amazon fulfilment centre in Milton Keynes and Barnardo’s. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon donated £10,000 to Barnardo’s to help the charity during the early stages of lockdown.

Shauli Ziv, general manager at Amazon Milton Keynes, said: “The team at Amazon is passionate about supporting the young people in our community and we jumped at the chance to make this donation to Bedford borough Independent Visitors. The work they do is needed now more than ever and they have our full support as they continue to have a positive impact on children across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.”

Tony Sleight, children’s services manager for the Bedford Borough Independent visiting service said: “The additional support through lockdown has been magnificent, the smiles on young people’s faces made each day that littler bit easier.”