A reception hosted by King Charles has recognised local and regional government staff making a difference to their communities – including two Lincolnshire County Council employees.
The event at St James Palace in London was a chance to say thank you and highlight the essential role professionals play in delivering public services, from education and health to community safety and support for vulnerable individuals.
Among the people honoured were Lincolnshire Trading Standards’ Andy Wright and Shaun Harrison from the Adult Care and Community Wellbeing team.
Andy said: “It was an honour both to be invited to the reception and nominated by council colleagues.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in combatting the sale of illegal cigarettes and vapes across Lincolnshire, which is often linked to organised crime groups. In just over two years, we’ve been granted 140 closure orders, and our innovative approach, which involves working with landlords to evict offenders, is now being rolled out in many other parts of the UK.
“I was delighted to have our work recognised in this way, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the equal efforts of my colleagues, both within the council and other agencies, so I’d like to say a big thank you to them for their support.”
Shaun added: “The Maximising Independence Team supports adults to learn new skills and regain confidence, promoting inclusion. Over the last year, the team has supported hundreds of people in enabling independence and to stay independent for longer. The demand for our service shows just how much this approach is needed, and we are proud of the positive outcomes we are achieving for people across our communities.
“It was a very proud moment, not just for me personally, but for the recognition of the work of the wider team also. The evening was an experience I will truly remember.”