Dementia awareness charity Reminiscence Learning based in Tonedale Wellington is celebrating a remarkable achievement in getting through to the final stages of the process to select Queen’s Award recipients in Somerset.
Reminiscence Learning’s Emma Green explains: “Last August Reminiscence Learning was nominated for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2018, the equivalent of an MBE.
“Since the initial excitement, we’ve been through a rigorous vetting process with an intensive interview by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant. This resulted in our nomination going through a series of panels and, ultimately, reaching the final stage.
“We were then under a silence embargo for nearly a year.
“It is only the crème de la crème who reach the final stages, who are then considered and ultimately given this prestigious award. Unfortunately, we did not receive the ultimate award but are extremely proud to have reached the final 10 nominated in Somerset.
“I feel very humble as the Chief Executive of Reminiscence Learning to have reached this stage – but obviously a little disappointed.
“HM Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Anne Maw, invited me and three members of my team to join her for a celebration reception at the Royal Bath and West Show on 30th May.
“The address was most complimentary of the charity and the work we do and it was a great honour to be in the company of the Queen’s representative for Somerset.
“I would like to join Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant in thanking from the bottom of my heart my team and others involved for all the excellent work they do for our charity at Reminiscence Learning, for all the loyalty and dedication, plus the hours above and beyond those you give voluntarily in order to make this charity successful. But, more importantly, for allowing us to deliver a service that is second to none and ultimately one that makes a huge difference to the people we all care about in our community.
“We are a very professional and unique charity which has a very high profile within the care industry.
“We are going to make the most of our amazing nomination and we will use it wisely. This is just one more step up the ladder and long may it continue.”