Valerie Bello awarded ‘Heritage Hero Lifetime Award’

March 13, 2025

Congratulations to Valerie Bello, recognised with the ‘Heritage Hero Lifetime Award’ by the Heritage Alliance

B’nai B’rith UK is delighted to announce that its long-time heritage activities Co-ordinator, Valerie Bello, has been recognised by the Heritage Alliance for her many years of service in promoting all aspects of heritage in the UK.

She was presented with the Heritage Alliance’s ‘Heritage Hero Lifetime Award’ at their prestigious annual Heritage Day at the historic Tower of London on Wednesday 5^th March, to reward over 25 years of tireless devotion to co-ordinating and promoting the charity’s heritage days, known as the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage (EDJCH). She is pictured left with the award, presented by Laura Carter (on the left) from Ecclesiastical Insurance who sponsored the awards and Carole Souter CBE, Chair of The Heritage Alliance.

Initiated by the B’nai B’rith Lodge in Strasbourg, the EDJCH rapidly spread across Europe and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. It is organised by a partnership between B’nai B’rith Europe, the European Council of Jewish Communities and the Spanish Jewry Network and is part of the Council of Europe’s project ‘Europe - A Common Heritage’. As a result of the EDJCH, the European Route of Jewish Heritage has evolved and is now one of the major cultural routes of Europe.

B’nai B’rith UK co-ordinates a huge range of heritage activities with a different theme each year, involving synagogues and Jewish organisations across the UK, who run open days, talks, guided walks, exhibitions and heritage-related events.

The Heritage Alliance unites over 200 independent heritage organisations in England as a powerful, effective and independent advocate for heritage. The organisation values all those volunteers who work to protect England’s heritage. From caring for rural heritage sites to engaging the next generation of visitors, volunteers’ skills, passion and commitment are the backbone of the heritage sector.

The Heritage Alliance’s Heritage Day is their flagship annual event, which this year brought together heritage leaders, professionals and volunteers for a day of keynote speeches, panels, workshops and networking opportunities, all centred around the theme 'Heritage Creates' - a celebration of how heritage fosters creativity and innovation.

For over a decade, the annual Heritage Heroes Awards have celebrated the extraordinary contributions of volunteers across the UK heritage sector. More than a simple ‘thank you’, these awards are a great opportunity to demonstrate how communities can take ownership of the historic environment around them and make a real difference. With multiple award categories, the awards supported by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance.

This year, the 15th annual Heritage Heroes Awards outstanding volunteers were nominated for these prestigious awards through two categories:

Heritage Heroes 2024 Award - Celebrating exceptional volunteer contributions in 2024
Heritage Hero Lifetime Award - Honouring individuals with 10+ years of dedicated service

All nominees were featured in a short film highlighting their achievements, screened during the ceremony. This is the Alliance’s way of celebrating and acknowledging the invaluable contributions of all their nominees and sharing their important work with leaders from across the heritage sector.

As a winner of a ‘Heritage Hero Lifetime Award’, Valerie Bello, who was accompanied at the event by her two sons and her daughter-in-law, was presented with a special plaque and gave a short thank you speech. Valerie also received a letter from the CEO of the Heritage Alliance, Lizzie Glithero-West, and their Chair, Carole Souter OBE, in recognition and thanks for her significant contribution to the sector.

Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO of the Heritage Alliance, said: “The Heritage Heroes Awards serve as a perennial reminder of the passion and commitment that volunteers in the heritage sector bring to heritage projects and places. From boat restoration to theatrical engagement, fundraising to community archaeology, this year has been no exception with an exceptional quality of nominees. Our panel heard inspiring stories and extraordinary feats from individuals and groups of all sizes. Our nation’s heritage story has always been intertwined with heroic voluntary effort and this continues today. Many congratulations to this year’s winners and all of those nominated for their hard work, creativity and dedication."

Valerie Bello said: “I was thrilled to learn I had won The Heritage Alliance's 'Heritage Hero Lifetime award', as I view it also as a tribute to my organisation, B'nai B'rith UK, one of whose main projects focuses on Heritage and, in particular, to the small group of volunteers who work with me on our Heritage Committee to coordinate the annual European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage in the UK, a series of Open Days, guided tours, walks, exhibitions, lectures and events.

"The awareness and importance of Heritage has risen dramatically in recent years both here and on the Continent. The Heritage Alliance, of which we are proud to have been members for many years, encourages the appreciation and development of Heritage in all its facets: its Focus Groups, its Special Interest Groups and its representation to Government, to mention but a few of its activities. Heritage has a significant role to play in national life - in preserving our sense of history, in the preservation of heritage sites and in increasing our knowledge of life, art and architecture in the past and its influence on the future.”

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