Helen Dalton-Hare, who founded a ground-breaking charity in north Norfolk, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to people with disabilities.
Ms Dalton-Hare is chief executive of About With Friends, which began in a small way at her home.
But, 12 years on, the charity has its own base in Holt Road, Cromer, offering about 160 children and adults with learning disabilities numerous opportunities to take part in work and social activities.
About With Friends organises social events, holidays at home and abroad, and has its own expanding catering and gardening businesses which teach members valuable life skills and mean that they are out in the community providing a service to many organisations and events. Ms Dalton-Hare, of Norwich Road, Cromer, was inspired to found the charity after working with disabled students at Paston College. She realised how few opportunities they had to socialise with their peers and decided to do something about it.
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