Charity which helps families facing challenges receives King’s Award

Me&Dee – a charity which helps families facing short and uncertain futures – has been presented with its King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

At a special event held at Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s Central Co-op County Ground, more than 90 guests witnessed David Coleman QPM DL and Lieutenant Colonel David Dawber TL DL present the charity’s founder, Maria Hanson MBE, with the award on behalf of his Majesty the King.

The ceremony was attended by civic dignitaries, including leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Ajit Singh Atwal, MP’s Baggy Shanker and Samantha Niblett, Maria’s daughters, charity trustees, volunteers, fundraisers and families supported by the charity.

The award is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is considered equivalent to an MBE. Last year, across Derbyshire, only three organisations achieved such status.

Maria said she was “thankful and proud” that her charity, which is run mostly by volunteers, has been recognised by His Majesty.

She said: “As proud recipients of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, I cannot thank our volunteers enough.

“It is more than I could ever have imagined when I set up me&dee all those years ago.”

At the ceremony, the charity received a certificate signed by the King and a domed glass crystal and will be invited to a Royal garden party.

Maria and her charity were nominated in recognition of outstanding voluntary community service over the last 20 years.

She said: “Years and years ago, Delia and I had a dream. She died before we could make it a reality and 20 years on, I carry her in my heart every day, hoping that she would be proud.

“I am so very happy that her son, Christopher and his wife, Alison, and my daughters, Xzena and Krystal, could share in this celebration.

“For our dream to become a reality, and for our charity, me&dee to flourish, we had to build an extraordinary team of volunteers – including our trusted board.

“My focus has always been to help and support as many families as I can and that is why we still do what we do.

“me&dee is volunteer led – from its CEO to its trustees and is based in a tiny office with a small team of just four.”

Presenting the award, Lieutenant Colonel David Dawber TL DL, said: “I am extremely thrilled to present this award to me&dee and I would like to congratulate everyone involved.

“What me&dee does is absolutely fantastic, and we would like to pass on our huge congratulations to you all.”

For years, despite battling her own disabilities, Maria has helped families facing challenging times through her continuing care programme – which has been designed to work hand in-hand with families.

The charity helps families where a potentially life-limiting, and often rare illness is diagnosed, by providing everything from private group swimming sessions, unique tailor-made outings for families, support for siblings through craft sessions and a specialist bereavement support group.

Since the start, me&dee has supported more than 9,000 families.

Maria said: “We are an extremely small charity that always thinks big – and we do this thanks to our amazing volunteers.

“Of course, raising funds is one of our biggest challenges, but with the help of our supporters, we keep on fighting to support as many families as we can.”