Worcestershire woman awarded BEM in New Year Honours list
Tracey Hemming has been given the award for her services to young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities.
A woman from Worcestershire is set to receive a BEM (British Empire Medal) for her services to young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities in the New Year Honours list.
Tracey Hemming opened the Freedom Day Centre in Evesham back in July 2017, aimed at providing a safe environment for adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.
In 2017 she won the Jubilee Award for Wychavon and in 2018 won the unpaid carers award for the West Midlands.
The facility supports over one hundred users, and Tracey says it means a lot seeing the impact there work has on people.
"To receive a BEM is truly the icing on the cake," she said.
"Being able to provide people with a safe environment where they can see their friends, learn news skills and have fun is just so important, and it's also important for their families as well.
"When I received the letter I had to read it twice just to make sure I was reading it correctly and I see there's still barriers against people with disabilities and I want to change this too."
Wendy Ann Tarplee-Morris from Hereford who is a co-founder of the Little Princess Trust, has also been given an MBE for services to children and young people with cancer.
The Little Princess Trust provides around 2,000 wigs every year to young people, and was set-up in 2005 in memory of Wendy's daughter Hannah who passed away from cancer.