| Sally Stanley a Network Manager within the Congenital Heart Disease Team for HTV has been recognised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and has received a Points of Light award for her “exceptional service” supporting young people in Hampshire.
Boris Johnson has recognised the charity work of Sally with one of the “Points of Light” awards, after she set up the charity “Simon Says”, which provides bereavement support to more than 300 young people across the county each year since 2001 so that’s approximately 5,400 children and young people who wouldn’t otherwise receive any bereavement support. Sally established the charity in memory of her husband Simon who died from cancer in 2000, leaving behind two young children. Finding there was no bereavement support locally for them, she set up a service that could offer young people, as well as teachers, information and advice, as well as running a telephone support line, monthly support groups and an annual residential weekend. The award from the PM aims to recognise outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and each day, someone in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their achievements. |
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 In a letter to Sally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I am lost in admiration for how you have taken your own personal grief and used your experience to offer care and support to children who are suffering their own loss. No child should feel alone at such a difficult time in their life and services like yours ensure that they have someone to talk to when they need it most. It is a wonderful and fitting tribute to your late husband, Simon.”
Your service exemplifies the great British spirit of generosity and philanthropy which brings out the best in us all. On behalf of the country, thank you! Sally said: “I am truly humbled to have been presented with the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award. Never did I ever think that my own personal story of being a widowed mother of 2 young children would be the foundation for what ‘Simon Says’ now provides for thousands of children and young people through one of the most challenging times of their life.
The award handed out to Sally on March 11 is the 1347th Points of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the successful Points of Light programme in the USA, with MP’s often presenting their constituents with the awards |
“Current statistics show that a parent of a child under the age of 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; that’s around 23,600 a year. It’s imperative to myself and everyone involved with ‘Simon Says’ that these bereaved children and young people are not forgotten. We couldn’t provide this support without the commitment of our wonderful network of volunteers – words cannot express my gratitude for all that they do.”
