THE CO-FOUNDER of a Dorset charity supporting bereaved children has enjoyed a royal occasion.
Margaret Hannbil, chief executive officer of Mosaic, was recognised with an MBE for her charity services to bereaved families throughout Dorset in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
She attended a ceremony at Windsor Castle where the Princess Royal presented her with the MBE.
Margaret was joined by her family as she received the accolade and celebrated the occasion.
She co-founded Mosaic with Patricia Williams back in 2007 to support children and young people who have suffered a bereavement of someone close to them through sudden death, illness, murder and suicide.
Eight years on, the charity has supported nearly 900 children and young people and is receiving more and more referrals every day.
Margaret said that collecting her MBE at Windsor Castle was a special experience and she dedicated the award to all those who have supported the charity and carried out work on its behalf over the years.
She said “It was a very special occasion.
"I am honoured to have received the MBE, which represents all the hard work the dedicated staff, trustees, volunteers and everyone involved have put in to making Mosaic the valued service it is today’.
Mosaic provides individual support for children, young people and their families throughout Dorset.
The charity does benefit from some statutory funding to support individual children, however all other money needs to be raised through fundraising and charitable trust grants.
Mosaic staff run regular training programmes and offer on-going support for professionals and volunteers while the charity also puts on a twice yearly residential weekend camps for bereaved children at Leeson House in Swanage.
When she first learned of her award, mother-of-four Margaret said she could not believe she had been chosen.
She said: “The news came completely out of the blue and I thought it was a wind up. I feel honoured and amazed to have been chosen.”
For more information about Mosaic visit mosaicfamilysupport.org or call 01258 837071.
CONTACT ME
t: 01305 269801
e: harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @echodorch
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here