The British Citizen Award

Early last year, which seems a lifetime ago, before Covid/ lockdown and before I set up the charity, I had been nominated for a British Citizen Award. Last year, in early 2020 I received the exciting news that I had been awarded the British Citizen Award, (which I have had to keep it a secret until the award ceremony), which was unfortunately postponed due to COVID. So on Thursday 28th January I received my medal by post and notification that the press embargo is over. I am hoping to attend the Palace of Westminster, when it is deemed safe to do so. I was awarded this medal for my voluntary service. I have been volunteering for 16 years as an officer in the Army Cadet Force. I have also had several other voluntary roles. Since then, I have joined Rotary and have become the President Elect for my club and set up a dementia project. I have been volunteering throughout the pandemic for H4ALL as a care caller and I have recently started working as a vaccine volunteer marshal. One of my most significant achievements, is one of my latest; 10 months ago, I started a project in response to COVID-19, this became a charity in September 2020 called Serving Our Superheroes and in that time the charity has donated almost 24,000 items to those in need throughout the pandemic, including NHS staff, hospital patients and the homeless. I have also set up a mental health and well-being charity. The Charity has recently been awarded the best charity award from the Hounslow and West London Chamber of Commerce and received an International Stevie Award. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. I am really honoured to have received this prestigious award, only 27 people received this, this year. It has been tough balancing work, being a mum, studying and volunteering. But it is worth it, and it goes to show you can be a mum, have a career and still take time out to help others. If anyone would like to support, the charity, which I now run with my husband Steve and sister Charlotte Houston we have a just giving page - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfundi...