A Derbyshire charity which helps families facing short and uncertain futures to make memories has won the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Melbourne-based me&dee, set up by Maria Hanson MBE, was nominated in recognition of its outstanding voluntary community service over the last 19 years.
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 five organisations achieved this status. Winners will receive a certificate signed by the King, a domed glass crystal and will be invited to a royal garden party.
Maria Hanson, founder and unsalaried CEO of me&dee, said she was “overwhelmed and overjoyed” that her charity, which is run mostly by volunteers, has been recognised by His Majesty The King today.
Maria, 71, said: “This news is truly wonderful and I am very happy that me&dee has been named winners in this year’s King’s Award.
“It is more than I could ever have imagined when I set up me&dee all those years ago.
“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.
“Without our wonderful volunteers who literally roll up their sleeves to help support our families, we would not be who we are today. Our volunteers are compassionate, have huge hearts and a great deal of empathy. They want to make a difference and I am extremely proud of every one of them.”
Maria is affectionately known as Derby’s Fairy Godmother because of the continuing support she gives families facing challenging times. Despite battling her own disabilities, she works tirelessly to sprinkle joy into people’s lives with her continuing care programme which has been designed to work hand in-hand with families.
The number of families seeking support from me&dee has risen every year since it set up 19 years ago. Since the start, its vision has always been simple – to make sure that no family facing the most difficult times copes on their own.
The charity helps families where a potentially life-limiting, and often rare illness is diagnosed, by providing everything from group swimming sessions, outings for families, support for siblings through craft sessions and a specialist bereavement support group. Since the start, me&dee has supported 9,000 families.
Maria, who also provides round-the-clock phone support, explained: “We are an extremely small charity that is always thinking big – and we do this thanks to our amazing volunteers. Our mission is to support as many families as we can, as well as working hard to raise funds, which is an enormous challenge for us.”
