RECEIVING an honour from the King was not something Claire Ashby ever imagined would happen when she began doing charity work nearly two decades ago - and throughout the years she has been driven purely by a belief that she should ‘help and support’ whoever she can.
While the House of Grace in Wath only became registered as a charity back in 2018, its founders - husband and wife Claire and Richard Ashby - have been doing their part to support locals for close to 20 years now.
“We do things like making food hampers, putting together school bags, baby packs or helping the homeless,” 41-year-old Claire told the Chronicle.
“It’s about doing anything we can to help people who are struggling.”
Despite their many years of charitable efforts, recent times have proved more difficult than ever, as the after-effects of the Covid pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis leave people struggling to cover day-to-day costs.
“We started food and hygiene hampers during Covid and thought it would be temporary,” Claire added.
“But it’s snowballed from there and now it’s most of what we do.
“What’s surprising is that in the last few years we’re getting asked for help by people who are still in work.
“Lots of charities only help those who are on benefits or not in work, but we do anything we can for anyone.
“Some people could be £1 over the line to qualify for support, so they still need that extra help.
“We do whatever we can.”
Plans for their work - which is guided by their Christian beliefs - continue to grow as they have recently acquired a new building on Barnsley Road in Wath, which they hope will help make their church and charity works continue.
Future plans include providing hot meals to the elderly and running support groups for families with SEND children, which wasn’t possible when they were hopping between rented locations in areas like Hoyland.
These expansive works have not gone unnoticed though, and on Monday Thurnscoe-born Claire was honoured with a BEM (British Empire Medal) for her voluntary and community services.
“I was really shocked because I don’t do any of this for recognition.
“As a Christian I simply believe in helping and supporting people, so I never expected this.
“Honestly, despite what I do for charity, I’m a bit of an introvert so to be honoured at the front and centre was out of my comfort zone, as lovely as it all was.
“And it was all really lovely, I had family and friends come and people I’ve worked with across the years.
“The children have now been asking me if they can take the medal to school to show it off to everyone but I’ve had to say no.”
