East Devon Mum receives Queen’s Birthday Honour

Claire Austin, founder and leader of Exmouth Friends in Need Community Support Group has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 for services to the community during Covid-19.  

Claire said: “I am truly humbled by this award. I am also incredibly proud of what we have achieved, both before and during the pandemic. Volunteers are a fundamental part of Exmouth Friends in Need and it’s really their work that this award is for”.

Exmouth Friends in Need was created to help prevent and alleviate poverty in Exmouth and surrounding areas.  When Lockdown One was announced, Claire immediately realised the huge implications for many. She quickly mobilised a leaflet drop to households all around Exmouth – no mean feat as the town’s population is thirty-six thousand! The leaflets were designed as an olive branch, offering help for those who were struggling with getting supplies due to finances or shielding. To deliver the resulting requests, she oversaw an expanded volunteer network providing shopping for households, pharmacy deliveries, letter posting, useful thing swaps and a “phone for a chat” service.  Hundreds of isolated people were paired up with a regular volunteer to meet individual needs. 

“Our Facebook page now has nearly eight thousand followers” added Claire. “Our work continues and our website - www.exmouthfriendsinneed.co.uk - tells you how to contact us if you need assistance or how you can help us with a donation or by giving your time.” 

Claire will receive her medal in the coming months.