WHEN Pam Jones started working for a small charity nearly 30 years ago there were very few facilities for young people with disabilities in the Forest.

She has been a key figure in helping change that situation and that determination has now been recognised nationally with the award of a British Empire Medal (BEM).

On Saturday (October 6) some of the thousands of young people she has helped through Forest Pulse joined parents, friends, staff and supporters as she was presented with her medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucester, Dame Janet Trotter.

A party at the Heart of the Forest Special School at Speech House near Coleford was an opportunity for warm and emotional tributes to a woman who is more than just an inspirational manager.

The British Empire Medal was introduced in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year to give national recognition for work done by individuals for their communities.

Dame Janet said: “It is also designed for communities to say who are the stars among us and how we can recognise them.

“People like Pam are the people who make communities tick.

“Pam, you have done a huge amount locally and it is a privilege for me to come to this mixed, lively community in the Forest of Dean.”

Pam started with what was then Contact a Family in 1990 when the only activity club available for children with disabilities was a summer play scheme.

According to Pam’s citation for the BEM: “Seeing the lack of provision she worked relentlessly for change.

“From small beginnings and under her management the club has expanded enormously and now covers 285 young disabled people. 

She spends many hours ensuring Forest Pulse is financially secure, she motivates an active fund-raising committee, attends all fund-raising events and has secured a staggering £256,000 from the Big Lottery. 

“In 2016 the charity had grown to two full-time and one part-time member of staff, many seasonal workers and around 80 volunteers. 

“She has championed diversity and  inclusion and has built Forest Pulse with a family ethos.”

One of her supporters said recently: “Pam is a pioneer, she’s a fund-raiser, she’s a volunteer, but above all she’s a passionate advocate for young people with special needs and their families.

“It is truly a privilege to work alongside her and she is an inspiration.”

That was echoed by Forest Pulse volunteer Graham Spearman, who said: “My lasting memory of Pam will always be that she has always had a real commitment to ensuring that young people with special needs have had opportunities to achieve to their highest level and she has continued to fight and push for that.”

Betty Duberley, who was Chair of Contact-a-Family when Pam joined as a family support worker, said she was a “rare commodity.”

She said: “It was agreed that the charity should employ a family support worker and that was a huge step for us and it was with some trepidation that we put the advert in the local paper. 

“The standard of applications was high and Pam got the job – her job description was to expand the client base, to support the families and to recruit and keep the many volunteers needed. 

“As chair I spent the next few years passing on background information and transferring everything that was whizzing about in my head, and, to my amazement she absorbed all this information with seemingly no effort and boundless energy. 

“I have a great many memories of outings and playdays and playschemes but always the atmosphere was warm and supportive.

“New families were welcomed and Pam was always looking for new challenges to stimulate the children and young people. 

“Many of the activities could not have been undertaken without the help of young volunteers and Pam has always been passionate about recruiting them and keeping them. 

“Many of  them came back year after year and often they started out as nervous young teenagers but most of them blossomed and gained confidence under her guidance. 

“The name may have changed but Pam and her team ensure the core elements written into that first job description remain and are carried out. 

“After establishing this organisation you could easily have moved on but you have chosen to stay here in the Heart of the Forest and use your time to improve the quality of life of the children and families under your care. 

“You have never switched off your support when you turn off the lights in the office but carry it on into your private life. 

“I know you don’t do pride and self-congratulation but, today, I think you should be a little proud.

“You have given nearly 30 years worth of time towards improving the lot of vulnerable children and their families and doing your best to smooth out the lumps and bumps of that most uneven of playing fields, life. 

“There are some families, and I include mine in that, who want to thank you for the strength of your love and support through much darker days. 

“It’s not been hard to find things to say about you but it’s been really difficult to find the best and right words to do justice to you. 

“You are a rare commodity, Pam Jones, but all of us who have known you all these years came to that conclusion a long time ago.

“Your British Empire Medal is richly deserved. We are so pleased for you and so proud of you.”

Pam said the award was for the young people and families who have given her a wonderful job over the last 30 years.

She also paid tribute to staff members who have been a part of Forest Pulse for almost as long as she has.

She said: “When I started  out I never dreamt I would be standing here with the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire receiving this wonderful accolade. 

“The Forest is a close community and we work together to get the things for the people we work with. 

“There are some of my staff team here who are very precious to me – I have people here today who have been here 28 years, huge periods of time they have devoted to working with young people. 

“I feel it isn’t for me, it is for you and all the young people who, over the last 30 years have given me a wonderful job.

“I love working with young people, I love working with parents.”

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Immense help to family

JACK Baker grew up with Forest Pulse and with the help of the charity and Pam Jones he is now studying in Cheltenham.

Mum Helen is chair of trustees at Forest Pulse and said Pam had been “immense” in helping Jack gain his independence.

Although he was told he would never take GCSEs, he is now on a Level Four IT course at college in Cheltenham.

She said: “Her help has been immense in getting my son the independence that I probably wouldn’t have allowed him to have by encouraging me to let go, letting him be independent and helping those skills along the way. 

“I’m so proud he can now catch two buses to college in Cheltenham where he is doing a Level Four course when I was told when he was at school that he would never take GCSEs.

“With the support of Pam and Forest Pulse, this is what can be achieved 

“As chair of trustees of the charity I cannot thank Pam enough for the support given to the trustee management committee from fundraising to completing application forms and formulating the policies so we can run a successful charity. 

“She understands what parents and young people need and has grown the charity fantastically to support us all. 

“For parents and carers, Pam is always there offering support.

“Her great experience of young people with special needs and disabilities can always point you in the right direction.

“She can always come up with a strategy or plan when you are in difficulties and puts us all in touch with each other and professionals who understand the difficulties that we have and offers the mutual support we need.”

Jack said Pam listens when he is worried and encourages him to push himself and keep going.

He said: “Pam teaches me no matter who you are or what your difficulties are,  you make a difference in somebody’s life. 

“With Pam’s help, I’ve  made many friendships through Forest Pulse. It’s amazing – I’ve  been able to communicate with so many people and it is thanks to Pam and everyone here.”