The Isle of Wight's Clare Griffin, who has dedicated the last 31 years to the Isle of Wight community has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire.)
The award is the third highest-ranking Order of the British Empire and recognises work with charitable and welfare organisations and public service outside the civil service.
Clare Griffin manages the West Wight Sports and Community Centre in Freshwater, which became a ‘hub’ for the local community even before the pandemic started.
She led efforts to establish the ‘West Wight Coronavirus Support Hub’, recruiting over 400 volunteers to monitor phones, shop, collect prescriptions for and deliver hot meals to Islanders isolating during the crisis.
The hub also oversaw the production of scrubs for local care homes and produced 1,200 face masks for the local community.
She also set up online classes to ensure members of The West Wight Sports and Community Centre could maintain their fitness programs during lockdown - which also allowed the centre to maintain some membership income.
With all its fundraising events cancelled because of coronavirus, the West Wight Solent Swim was able to go ahead in August for its tenth year, which Isle of Wight Radio took part in. The event raised nearly £15,000 for the charity.
Clare told Isle of Wight Radio she was "overwhelmed and shocked" when she was awarded the accolade, she said:
"I had an email back at the beginning of September and I had to respond within a few days to say if I was happy to accept the award. I was somewhat overwhelmed and shocked is all I can say - very shocked - as I really didn't see it coming.
"I really don't feel as though I'm deserving of it at all because as I say I am part of a team, the team need to be acknowledged. The team were acknowledged by the visit from the Earl of Wessex but to be singled-out doesn't really feel quite right, to be honest with you.
"It is lovely obviously. But again - I am just part of a team and I feel absolutely honoured and privileged to be able to say that I lead this fantastic team - that is team West Wight."
Last month (September) The Earl of Wessex also paid a visit to volunteers at the site, as previously reported, to congratulate their work during the crisis.
Prior to the pandemic, Clare managed to secure a sports lottery grant to develop the site (which was a swimming pool) into a sports centre. She then established ‘Our Place’ - a drop in café to support vulnerable Islanders, giving it the new name of The West Wight Sports and Community Centre.
In November last year, Clare was also presented with the 2019 Sunday Times Vitality Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year Award.
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