Exmouth community champion to be honoured at Palace of Westminster

A Devon woman whose dedication has transformed support for local families is to be honoured at the Palace of Westminster this month

Jodie Wilkerson, Director of Exmouth Bosom Buddies CIC, has been selected to receive the British Citizen Award Medal of Honour for Services to Healthcare (BCAh). She is one of just 26 people from across the UK to be recognised in this year’s New Year People’s Honours.

The medal presentation will take place on Thursday 22 January 2026 at the Palace of Westminster, recognising individuals who have made a positive impact on their communities and are invited to use the BCA post-nominals in recognition of their contribution.

Jodie is the driving force behind Exmouth Bosom Buddies, a grassroots, volunteer-led organisation supporting families through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the early years of parenthood. When funding cuts threatened to close the area’s only breastfeeding support group in 2019, she stepped in to protect the service, rebuilding it into a trusted and inclusive community lifeline.

Today, Bosom Buddies supports hundreds of parents and children every year, offering free weekly support groups, one-to-one guidance, and practical resources such as breast pump loans and reusable nappy schemes. Many parents who first arrive seeking help later return as trained volunteers, strengthening a growing network of peer support.

In 2024 alone, the service supported nearly 800 parents and children across Exmouth and East Devon.

Local MP David Reed praised Jodie’s contribution, saying:

“I have seen first-hand the extraordinary difference Jodie makes to families across Exmouth and Exeter East, in both my capacity as the local Member of Parliament but also as a new father. Through Bosom Buddies and Nurture East Devon, she has created safe, compassionate spaces for new mothers and families at a time when support and reassurance matter most.

Jodie’s work in our community is both far-reaching and long-standing, built on more than 16 years of tireless commitment. I am genuinely hard-pressed to find mothers locally who have not been supported by her in some way. Her dedication strengthens not just individual families, but the fabric of our community as a whole. Community champions like Jodie play a vital role in bringing people together, building confidence, and ensuring no one feels alone at the start of parenthood. This recognition is richly deserved, and a powerful reminder of the value of service rooted in compassion and community.”

The British Citizen Award, now in its 11th year, recognises individuals who make a positive impact on their communities and society. Medallists are selected on merit and honoured at a formal presentation at Westminster.

Exmouth Bosom Buddies’ free breastfeeding support group runs every Wednesday, 12.30pm–2.30pm at Scott Drive Church Hall.

For more information about Jodie’s wider early years groups, families can follow 'Nurture East Devon' on Facebook.