MBE awarded to Samaritans’ volunteer

The Prince of Wales has awarded volunteer Doreen Yate an MBE for her 31 years of devoted service to Samaritans.  The award was presented at Buckingham Palace on Friday 18 November.

Doreen, 79, from Barrowford, has been recognised for her voluntary service to Samaritans in Pendle, Burnley and Rossendale. Volunteering with the charity for over three decades, Doreen has twice been Director of the Pendle, Burnley, Craven and Rossendale branch and was also the Director of Rochdale Samaritans.

Great-grandmother Doreen has also served as Chair of Samaritans’ Correspondence branch, and was instrumental in setting up a freepost scheme allowing prisoners to correspond with Samaritans by letter. This service has seen a year-on-year increase since its launch, nearly three years ago.

Speaking about the award and her time with Samaritans, Doreen said: “Volunteering with Samaritans has become a huge part of my life over the years. I enjoy helping people in their time of need and have met some life-long friends in my fellow volunteers. Being awarded an MBE has left me speechless and my family are very proud of me.”

Chair of Samaritans, Stephen Hoddell, said: “Doreen is a true inspiration and her MBE is further recognition of the hard work, passion and dedication she has shown to Samaritans and her community for more than three decades.”

For more information please contact Samaritans’ press office:

Claire Duncan on 020 8394 8345 or email mailto:c.duncan@samaritans.org