Christine Boatwright, founder and clinical director of the Kernos Centre in Sudbury has been given a BEM in the King’s New Year Honours list after being recognised for her services to mental health in the county.

The Kernos Centre was launched in 2003 and is funded entirely by donations, client contributions and grants from councils and programmes.

The non-profit aims to offer mental health support and counselling “to anyone who needs it, whenever they need it, for as long as they need it, regardless of their circumstances” and currently provides around 3,000 counselling sessions per year.

Ms Boatwright said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award and I feel fortunate and privileged to have been recognised in this way.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has been involved in the process.”

James Cartlidge with Sara Jackson (centre) and Chris Boatwright (right) of the Kernos Centre in Sudbury (Image: Simon Parker) She thanked her team both past and present and said: “Without their selfless dedication Kernos could not exist.

“Our trustees and directors, along with our team of volunteers at Kernos are unpaid and our counsellors work for a fraction of what they can earn in private practice.

“It is their generosity and hard work that has enabled us to provide mental health support to vulnerable people in our community since 2003.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who provide funding and donations to the charity which enables Kernos to provide help to those who need it,” she added.

And South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge said: “As the founder and clinical director of the fantastic Kernos Centre charity, Chris Boatwright has been supporting the people of Sudbury and surrounding areas for the past 21 plus years.

“Chris has created a support structure that helps those who often cannot afford to get the support they need with their mental wellbeing.”

The Shadow Armed Forces Minister has thanked volunteers for their efforts in supporting Ukraine.

Mark Francois, who is also the MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, visited the Wickford-based charity, Aid4Ukraine over the Christmas period.

The charity organises regular aid convoys to Ukraine, providing humanitarian aid, including generators, medical equipment, food, and children’s toys.

The group, led by former serviceman Steve Parker, has been making trips to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mr Francois said: “As the Shadow Armed Forces Minister, I am very aware of the suffering of the people of Ukraine, since the Russian invasion almost three years ago.

“I am therefore very proud to have a charity like Aid4Ukraine, based in my constituency, who are working very hard to help alleviate the situation in Ukraine and I wish them every success.”

Mr McCubbin said no-one visited his project, The Good Kitchen in Silicy, for six months because of the stigma of asking for help.

It has now rescued more than 19 tonnes of food, delivered over 8000 cooked meals and supplied over 750 fresh food parcels to families on the Mediterranean island.

“Italians are very proud. It took a while to get this project going. The kitchen was originally seen as a place of shame, but now it’s a place for community and joy,” he said.

The workshop that Ingrid participated in at The Good Kitchen hopes to bring more young chefs into the industry.

“We want to create a brigade of inspired young chefs who might not necessarily start their own project but who might challenge their head chef and ask ‘what are we doing with our food waste for our community?’” said Mr McCubbin.