Royal seal of approval
Volunteer Connie to receive BEM
A dedicated volunteer who has helped improve the lives of families in East Kilbride and those in some of the world’s poorest countries has been given the Royal seal of approval.
Mum Connie Smillie, from Westwood, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List recently.
Connie has worked for the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), based in the town’s Abercrombie House, for 17 years, providing unfailing service in a range of roles.
Her time with DFID has included providing support to colleagues and their families who are moving overseas to provide frontline humanitarian support.
She now works in the Civil Society Team, within Inclusive Societies Department, providing programme support to UK Aid Direct, UK Aid Connect and the Small Charities Challenge Fund.
These programmes bring together a range of charities and organisations, large and small, building partnerships to maximise the efficiency and value for money of the UK’s aid budget, which is improving the lives of the world’s poorest people.
And The Small Charities Challenge Fund also ensures that small UK charities can access their share of the aid budget to support their work.
Connie said she was very surprised when she received the news she was being given a BEM.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was a really nice letter,” she said.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been nominated for a BEM and would like to thank those who put me forward for this.
“I thoroughly enjoy my work with DFID and my volunteering work and to be recognised with a BEM for this is fantastic.”
In addition to the official letter, she also received congratulations from DFID’s Secretary of State, DFID’s Permanent Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland
Connie is passionate about volunteering and shares this passion with her teams and has encouraged countless colleagues to spend days helping out in the local community getting involved with projects such as sorting donated clothes at the Kilbryde Hospice warehouse; garden maintenance for a disabled person through the Cornerstone organisation and weed-clearing in local parks.
She is also part of a new staff team, working to set up a volunteering scheme for DFID staff based in East Kilbride.
However, she doesn’t stop there, as in 2013 Connie, along with three friends, she set up the EK Hangout, a place for young adults with disabilities to meet-up, hangout and have new experiences.
The four friends set up the group when they realised their own disabled sons were becoming isolated from the friends they had made at school. Unable to socialise independently, meeting regularly would be an opportunity for their sons’ friendships to continue.
“We decided to meet up regularly on a Monday night with our boys. Word got around very quickly and the group numbers rose considerably. It’s just blossomed,” Connie went on.
The friends, known affectionately within the group as the ‘Maws Mafia’, run fundraising events, including their annual fundraising ball and thanks to generous donations from the local community, they are currently able to support 35 young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.
The activities arranged include outdoor centre residential weekends, trips to the theatre, drama sessions, horse riding sessions and various days out, all chosen by the members.
Connie added: “The impact the group has had on the young adults is clear to see.
“Their confidence has greatly increased and they are able to be themselves in a happy, safe environment.
“The group has brought many families together too, with some siblings and parents of members volunteering regularly with activities.”
The EK Hangout has been recognised nationally through Scottish Television when the group won an RBS Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes award in 2014.