Activity advisor from Anchor care group receives MBE

Debbie Sharples has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) after her work for Anchor care group.

Ms Sharples has worked as a customer engagement advisor within the group for over eight years, and will receive the MBE to recognise the contribution she has made in promoting the benefits that participation in meaningful activities can have on older people’s quality of life.

She said: “I feel overwhelmed about this award as I feel that I’m only doing my job. But this award means that the importance of meaningful activity has been recognised by the highest order of the land – Her Majesty the Queen.

“This award is for everyone within Anchor who has strived to put activity high up the agenda to make our customers happy. “I would like to thank Anchor’s chief executive Jane Ashcroft and Tee Tatum, the hospitality manager at Ashcroft and Springfield care homes in Bradford, for nominating me for this honour.” Ms Sharples has been involved in many projects throughout the country which has encouraged and promoted the importance of providing exceptional activities for older people to participate in.

One successful initiative she has helped to organise was the Anchor Community Band, which saw older people from across the country contribute to the song See Yourself, which raised thousands of pounds for the charity and reached number 17 in BBC Radio 1’s indie chart.

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor said: “I’m delighted that Debbie has been recognised for the important work she has done to promote meaningful activity in our care homes and housing locations.

“Her enthusiasm, creativity and passion for person-centred care make her an Anchor ambassador of whom I am very proud.”

Anchor’s first care home opened in 1982 and now the care group’s 10,000 staff members provide residential and nursing care to older people throughout Anchor’s 100 care homes.

Ms Sharples is also a member of the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA), and the founding member of Anchor’s Legacy Funding Panel.

The honour will be presented to Ms Sharples at Buckingham Palace later on in the year, where she will also be recognised for spearheading the project to create Anchor’s Big Box of activity cards, a project that provides a tool kit of ideas and activities to benefit older people as well as offer advice and techniques for organising activities.

Ms Sharples has also been praised by her colleagues on her success and passion for her projects. Co-worker Tee Tatum said: “Debbie has been a brilliant mentor. The work she does and the passion she shows for person-centred activity has ensured our residents are able to maintain life skills, are given the opportunity to learn new ones and have given them a voice. “Debbie inspires us all with her dedication to ensure that older people can enjoy activities that really make a difference to their daily lives.”