A Glasgow Samaritans volunteer has been honoured with a British Empire Medal in celebration of 50 years of listening.
Joan Cameron (81) was included in the King’s Birthday Honours List this month in recognition of her ‘sustained commitment’ to the charity over the last five decades.
Joan joined Samaritans as a volunteer at the Glasgow branch in May 1974, and as well as volunteering to answer calls from those in emotional distress, she has held several roles including branch director on several occasions and is currently a Regional Quality Development Officer (RQDO).
She said: “I joined Samaritans when I was off work looking after my very young children. I wanted to do some voluntary work to give back and to have direct contact with people needing to talk.
“Samaritans is a brilliant organisation and I’m privileged to have been a part of it for 50 years.
“I still get a huge amount of satisfaction from taking calls on shift. I enjoy mixing with other volunteers from the Glasgow branch and from other branches as a RQDO, and formerly as a Branch Visitor / Quality Mentor, and learning about other branches.”
Joan enjoyed a long career as a speech and language therapist and was married to husband, Iain, until he passed away in 2021. She has a son and a daughter, and four granddaughters.
She said she was surprised and delighted to learn that she had been nominated by the Glasgow branch for the honour.
“I heard about being honoured with a BEM about six weeks ago and was thrilled about it. I am so touched by the number of calls and messages that I have had since it went public. I’m now really looking forward to a branch function in August in recognition of my 50 years with them,” she added.
Elizabeth McConnell, Glasgow branch director, said: “We nominated Joan in recognition of her amazing achievement of volunteering with Glasgow Samaritans for 50 years.
“Her dedication and commitment to the branch is inspirational. She shares her skills and experience with the whole organisation in her role as Regional Quality Development Officer and is well-known far beyond the Glasgow Branch.
“I personally really valued Joan's wisdom, experience and support when I took on the role of director and we are all thrilled that she has been recognised in this way.”