Banffshire community stalwarts from Keith and Dufftown awarded BEMs in King’s birthday honours list
Two community stalwarts have been honoured in the King’s birthday honours list.
Banffshire ladies Elaine Clarke, from Dufftown, and Polly Patrick, of Keith, are to receive British Empire Medals (BEMs) for the huge difference they have made to lives of others in their communities.
Congratulating them on their achievement, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson said: “Both are remarkable people who have added much to the life of the north-east and made a significant impact on the lives of many.”
Mrs Clarke’s award honours her services to young people in Speyside through the organisation Speyside Youth, of which she is chairwoman.
The organisation’s core aim is to help youngsters aged between P7 and S3 develop a wide range of life skills and help them make a difference in their own communities.
Covering the Moray community boundaries of Speyside and Dufftown and district, the group work with kids through a structured programme of support, opportunity and activity provided by a team of youth workers.
Mrs Patrick’s dedicated work as Advocacy Services Manager for Advocacy North East Ltd (ANE) has seen her recognised for her work helping people who require independent advocacy in Banffshire.
Her vision was to extend the service, providing an advocacy service to the disadvantaged and those with mental health issues and learning disabilities having previously been involved with Aberdeenshire Representation and Advocacy Service.
Under Mrs Patrick’s management ANE has grown considerably from three staff and a core budget of £44,370 to 16 members of staff, 11 volunteers and a budget of £368,793, ensuring high quality advocacy training and ongoing support.
She has always championed the development of the service to cover disadvantaged groups not covered by Scotland's Mental Health Act (2003).
As part of her role she has secured alternative funding for additional work streams such as the substance misuse pilot project, the use of link workers for older people in the care home setting and the development of an advocacy service for children and young persons and she ensured that a carers’ advocacy work stream was included in ANEs core funding.
Congratulating all those recognised in the King’s birthday honours list, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, said: “The honours list showcases the remarkable achievements of individuals across Scotland who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields.
“Their service to our communities represents the spirit of dedication and excellence that makes Scotland proud."
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.