THE CEO of a charity which supports ex-offender to turn their lives around is to be recognised with a British Citizen Award.

Kim Hughes, 50, from Garswood, is to be recognised at the Palace of Westminster with a British Citizen Award for her services to volunteering and charitable giving with a BCAv, at an official medal presentation being held on January 23, 2020.

Kim has been a volunteer for Apex Charitable Trust since 1998.

She works with and supports ex-offenders helping them to turn their lives around. Kim shows kindness and compassion believing everyone deserves a second chance.

She knows that education and opportunities not only help reduce reoffending, but strengthen communities by giving people a sense of purpose and worth.

For 20 years Kim’s dedication has seen her take on more responsibility and since 2006 she has been leader of the Trust.

Kim also battled her own personal health conditions, being diagnosed with MS and undergoing various medical treatments, but upholding her charity commitment throughout.

Over the 20 years Kim has supported numerous ex-offenders, helping them achieve meaningful paid employment, secured more than £1 million to keep the charity running and provided support and encouragement to her entire team of staff.

Kim has provided and continues to provide empathetic support and advice to ex-offenders without judgement, including a lady convicted of fraud and deception, who through Kim’s guidance and mentoring has gone on to achieve a degree in criminology and a PHD.

Commenting on the award Kim said: "I was totally taken aback when I found out that I had been nominated for this, never mind being selected.

"I'm a private person and not one to demand credit for things, but I'm accepting this award on the back of the achievements of the charity and the team without whom I could not have achieved what we have done.

"I'm very proud of being in this position."

The British Citizen Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday people for exceptional endeavour and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.

A BCAv is awarded for Volunteering and Charitable Giving.