Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble win a 'Community Heroes' award and meet Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

Two 'heroes' of the Chorley community were invited to a reception held by the Prime Minister and his wife, (21st October 2009) to celebrate the work they carry out for Home-Start in their local community.

Carole Lee, scheme manager and Jeannie Stirling, chair of trustees of Home-Start Chorley and South Ribble were nominated for a 'Community Heroes' award by their local MP, Lindsay Hoyle.

(Pictured from left to right, Sarah Brown, Carole Lee, Lindsay Hoyle, Jeannie Stirling and Gordon Brown).

Mr Hoyle said: "Home-Start provides an outstanding service within the Chorley and South Ribble area, supporting families who are facing difficulty, helping them deal with challenges they face and working hard to keep families together. Carole and Jeannie have been central to the success of Home-Start here in Chorley and without their dedication and commitment Home-Start would not have been able to attract the funding and help families within our local community. I was delighted that they were able to visit No 10 and speak to the Prime Minister."

The reception started with afternoon tea at the House of Commons, which they attended with Mr Hoyle and then they were taken over to No 10 to meet Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah.

Carole said: "It was a fantastic experience to see inside No 10. The artwork, silverware and the history all added to the excitment. (As did the wine and canapes!) There were about 60-80 people attending the event from all over the country so we did not get the chance to speak at length with the Prime Minister. However when it was our turn to see him both he and Sarah did welcome us very warmly, congratulate us on the work of Home-Start both locally and nationally and said that they were both very aware of the good work done by our organisation."

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