Young Middlesex widow who created unique Bereavement Support selected to receive The British Citizen Award

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, 27 extraordinary people from across the UK are being recognised with the coveted British Citizen Award. One of them is Alia Jones, from Hayes, Middlesex. Due to the current lockdown, the usual grand medal presentation ceremony at The Palace of Westminster is unable to take place. For only the second time in its history, Alia and the remaining 26 medallists received their BCA medals by courier, together with video messages of congratulations together with an invitation to the House of Lords at a date yet to be determined, when it is safe to do so.
The British Citizen Award (BCA), in association with One-Stop, is now in its sixth year and recognises exceptional people who positively impact their communities. Alia Jones is honoured with a BCAc for Services to the Community.
Alia sadly lost her partner and father of her two daughters, suddenly in 2011 to a misdiagnosed brain tumour. Her daughters were just 2 years-old and 3 weeks-old respectively. As they grew and started asking questions, Alia turned to bereavement support. Not finding much in the way of help locally, nor a national charity in her area, she decided to do something about it.

She formed a support group with a website offering hope and inspiration to bereaved children and families just like her own. To date, Alia has helped over 150 families. Alia is now running an expressive art and play session for the families, a place for them to interact and express themselves in a positive way, making personalised memory boxes, forever cushions and offering counselling support and funded trips to create new memories.

Her charity, Halo Children’s Foundation, was chosen as the Hillingdon Mayor’s Charity which saw Mayor Carol Melvin visit the community helping raise £30,000 in donations, Alia has raised over £100,000 in total, to provide all these services and is the only bereavement support group of its kind in the area, touching the hearts of those that need support during the most challenging of times.

Jonny McQuarrie, Managing Director from BCA partner One Stop said: “Each time a new group of medalists are selected it reminds us of how great the people of this nation are. We serve many communities up and down the country through the One Stop convenience stores, and these particular individuals being recognised now, especially at this time of extraordinary circumstance, reflects all that is good about community spirit. It’s a privilege to play a small part in helping them to be recognised. Our congratulations go to all 27 honourees”.

Dame Mary Perkins, who would have presented Alia with her medal said: “British Citizen Award recipients are very special people. They all go above and beyond for others with selfless acts of kindness and community spirit with no thought or expectation of praise or reward. These awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on their good works and give them the recognition they so thoroughly deserve. They are the nation’s true unsung heroes and, in a year that has been so very challenging for everyone, their contributions have been even more valuable than ever. I look forward to seeing all the recipients recognised in person as soon as is possible.”

Messages of support were sent via video from TV personalities Michael Underwood, Matt Allwright, Tim Vincent, pop superstar Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls, and popular comedian, actor and Patron of the BCA Bradley Walsh. Representatives from the wider sponsor community also sent messages including from Experian, Places for People and Objective HR who have all continued to support the BCA throughout the pandemic.

The British Citizen Award was established in 2015, to recognise exceptional individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly making a positive impact on society. The BCA recognises true pillars of the community, whose divergent endeavours deserve honouring, but would otherwise likely be overlooked.

Dubbed the People’s Honours, each Medal bears the words ‘For the Good of the Country’ and are presented to only a small number of exceptional individuals twice annually. The British Citizen Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday people for exceptional endeavor and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.