A woman from Pinner who set up a charity for disabled adults in London 30 years ago was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace recently after it won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
Kim Mughan was inspired to set up Impact Theatre in 1999 when she was working for a local college running a drama and performing arts course for people with learning disabilities. Four years later she launched a day service.
She said: “This was something they could be successful and feel a true sense of achievement after they had put performances on. You could see the benefits for people with learning disabilities – it was helping them to understand about commitment, communication skills – all the things you wanted them to develop were there in a nutshell.
“But they were leaving college with no outlet. They had learnt skills but there was nowhere for them to channel it. We now have over 60 members with a huge waiting list.”
Kim said she was absolutely delighted to receive the invitation and attended the event with one of the members.
She said the pair met Princes Charles and Camilla and added that the day was extremely memorable,
She said: “They were very friendly. Our member was absolutely overwhelmed and seeing them up close was such an experience. We also got to go in part of the palace and he became completely besotted and kept saying he couldn’t believe the queen lives here. It was interesting not just for me to go but also to see it through his eyes. “
Kim and the charity will be presented with the award in September.
0 Comments