New Year honour for Shoreline employee

Published by Shoreline for Shoreline Housing Partnership in Communities and also in Housing

Local volunteer and Shoreline Housing Partnership senior benefit adviser Ann Maggs has been honoured by the Queen for her tireless fundraising and will receive an MBE for her services to the community of North East Lincolnshire.

On hearing the news in November, Ann was so surprised she thought it an elaborate practical joke but decided to play along with the ‘hoax’.

Ann said: "I was staggered when I received the letter from the Prime Minister in November 2011 – I genuinely thought it was a joke.”

Ann has volunteered for charity for over 25 years after starting to fundraise for Marie Curie Cancer Care following the death of her mother from ovarian cancer.

She has worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau for ten years and is currently vice-chair, as a trustee forGrimsbyand Scunthorpe Rape Crisis, served on the committee of the local Bottoms Up Appeal, sits on the Board of Cleethorpes Friendship at Home and is a trustee for Age UK North East Lincolnshire, representing Shoreline on the board.

Since working for Shoreline, Ann has continued her fundraising as inspirational chair of the events group, helping the social housing provider’s employees to raise well over £33,500 for a range of local charities including Crossroads for Carers, the Pink Rose Appeal, St Andrews Hospices, Cleethorpes Friendship at Home, Bottoms Up, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance, Wish upon a Star, Grimsby Soup Kitchen and Harbour Place.

Ann said: "I’m privileged to work for an organisation that wants to make a difference to the local community.

“I have loved my work within North East Lincolnshire and I'm very proud of the area and the support it gives to charities.

"Personally I have a very supportive husband, two wonderful sons and a very close group of family and friends who have tirelessly backed and supported everything I have ever done – mostly with money – I just ask and they are there.

“I am very humbled by the MBE and can think of many others within our area who deserve it more then me but I will gratefully accept it."

Shoreline chief executive Tony Bramley said: “We are delighted that Ann has become a Member of the British Empire, it is richly deserved.

“Both within Shoreline and the wider local community we are all aware of the longstanding and tireless efforts of Ann to support a range of local good causes, but it is very gratifying that this recognition is now both national and at the highest level.”