Lincolnshire County Council employees have had their efforts highlighted at two royal events hosted by the King.
Lincolnshire Trading Standards’ Andy Wright and Shaun Harrison from the Adult Care and Community Wellbeing team were among the people honoured at a reception held at St James’s Palace. Watch the video below of their experience.
This was organised to thank local and regional government staff making a difference to their communities and highlight the essential role professionals play in delivering public services.
And the council’s deputy director for adult care, Hayley Eccles, attended Windsor Castle for a celebration of the work of unpaid carers and the professionals who support them.
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.”
In a message to guests of the Windsor Castle event, the King said he was ‘moved, time and again, by the resilience of those who give so much of themselves while asking for so little in return.’
Hayley said: “This was a wonderful way to recognise the extraordinary contribution unpaid carers make to our communities, and I was honoured to be there. The efforts of carers can often go unnoticed so it’s important that we take every opportunity to show our appreciation and let them know they are not alone.
“The event was also an opportunity to highlight the challenges faced by carers, particularly the children and young people who shoulder responsibilities beyond their years. The council’s ambition is to create a system that supports carers better, and locally we are working with carers to explore ways we can improve the services available to them.”
Watch 'Duchess Sophie Joins King & Queen to Honour Local Heroes at Palace Reception'.