Press release

Charity Commission investigator awarded MBE

Charity Commission investigator awarded an MBE in recognition of his volunteering work with Victim Support.

From:
The Charity Commission
Published
22 June 2015

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An Investigator at the Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his volunteering work with Victim Support. Soames Shillingford has volunteered with the charity for more than two decades and has been trained to provide expert counselling. He supports victims of a wide range of crimes who have often been through harrowing and traumatising ordeals. In 2010, he took unpaid leave from his full time job at the commission to attend the inquiry into the 7/7 bombings, providing support to the families and victims of the attacks.

Soames Shillingford, who has worked for the commission in London for 38 years said:

I was shocked to receive a letter from the Cabinet Office in April which seemed to suggest that I was getting an MBE. It wasn’t entirely clear. I said nothing until the Honours List became public and I was contacted by my local newspaper. I still can’t believe that I have been singled out. Victim Support has lots of fantastic volunteers. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing charity and delighted to have been recognised in this way.

Paula Sussex, CEO of the Charity Commission, said:

Soames is a credit to both his community and the commission, and I am humbled by his selfless dedication to helping victims of crime. He fully deserves this honour, and I would like to congratulate him on behalf of everyone at the commission.

Ends

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Notes to Editors

  1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales.

  2. We are the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, acting in the public’s interest, to ensure that: * charities know what they have to do * the public know what charities do * charities are held to account

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Published 22 June 2015