A WEYMOUTH woman has been honoured by national relationship support charity Relate.

In a Relate Heroes awards ceremony, Alison Lesley Smith, from Upwey, was recognised for her work with Relate Dorset and South Wiltshire over the past six years.

She is one of ten Relate Heroes from across the country and was presented with a certificate and prize at the organisation’s Annual Conference in Northamptonshire.

Alison’s role involves being the face of Relate and greeting clients for counselling and mediation, supporting volunteer office assistants and receptionists by enabling them to build their own skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Alison said: “I was really honoured to be nominated as a Relate hero.

“The work we do here to support relationships in our community makes a real difference and is very important to me and the whole team of administrators, counsellors and mediators.”

Colleagues said Alison is unfailingly helpful and makes every visitor to the centre feel welcomed and looked after; setting an example by modelling the very best ways of developing and maintaining relationships.

Centre manager Sheila Maycock said: “We are very proud that Alison has been recognised as a Relate Hero.

“She has worked tirelessly to help people build and enjoy healthy relationships and it is great that she has been recognised in this way.”