The founder of a Suffolk charity that offers mental health support and counselling to anyone who needs it has been honoured with a British Empire Medal.
Christine Boatwright, founder and clinical director of the Kernos Centre in Sudbury has been given a BEM in the King's New Year Honours list after being recognised for her services to mental health in the county.
The Kernos Centre was launched in 2003 and is funded entirely by donations, client contributions and grants from councils and programmes.
The non-profit aims to offer mental health support and counselling "to anyone who needs it, whenever they need it, for as long as they need it, regardless of their circumstances" and currently provides around 3,000 counselling sessions per year.
Ms Boatwright said: "I am truly honoured to receive this award and I feel fortunate and privileged to have been recognised in this way.
"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has been involved in the process."
She thanked her team both past and present and said: "Without their selfless dedication Kernos could not exist.
"Our trustees and directors, along with our team of volunteers at Kernos are unpaid and our counsellors work for a fraction of what they can earn in private practice.
"It is their generosity and hard work that has enabled us to provide mental health support to vulnerable people in our community since 2003.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who provide funding and donations to the charity which enables Kernos to provide help to those who need it," she added.
And South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge said: "As the founder and clinical director of the fantastic Kernos Centre charity, Chris Boatwright has been supporting the people of Sudbury and surrounding areas for the past 21 plus years.
"Chris has created a support structure that helps those who often cannot afford to get the support they need with their mental wellbeing."
Published in the East Anglian Daily Times.
