A charity which began life in the back room of a house in Telford has won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
A charity which began life in the back room of a house in Telford has won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The award, equivalent in status to an MBE, recognises groups of individuals who give their time freely for the benefit of others.
The Listen and Care facility, based in Leegomery, is one of only six organisations in the West Midlands to receive the accolade.
The charity helps people with mental health problems and is used by up to 35 people every day. It offers a host of activities, ranging from Indian head massages, art classes, keep-fit and walks for health to IT courses, gardening and music afternoons.
Pat Fieldhouse, who co-founded the charity more than 20 years ago, has been invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on July 8 in recognition of the honour.
Charity chairman, Dave Tipton, will sadly not be able to take up his invitation due to ill health.
Mrs Fieldhouse co-founded Listen and Care back in 1983 when it operated from the back room of her home, but it soon grew and moved several times before finding a home in The Old Stables four years ago.
It is now currently waiting to move into a brand new, purpose built centre, being constructed on the site of the former Thomas Telford pub, as part of a multi million pound regeneration of Leegomery.
Users of the centre also have a date to look forward to, as around 30 of them have been invited to attend a garden party thrown by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire in Hodnet on July 25.
Social worker Les Birrell, who has worked at the centre for the last 18 months, said: “We are absolutely ecstatic. Winning the award is fabulous news for all of us.
“Mental health is so often the Cinderella service nationally, as far as funding is concerned, and is often the first service to be hit when cuts are made.
“There is also a great stigma surrounding mental health but sufferers are no different from anyone else and they should not be scared of admitting to problems.
“We have more than 30 people here on a regular basis and if anyone came down to the centre they would see what lovely, warm and engaging people they are. These people just need a little bit of help and support and that is what we give them here.”
Mr Birell added that the charity hoped to move into its new premises - which are part of the restoration of Leegomery district centre - in the near future.
