A CUMBRIAN woman who was included in the New Year’s Honours List will now be working in a leading role in providing support for housing and rehab in the South Lakes.

Helen Storey MBE, from Penrith, has started her new role as project lead with the Wells Community which will see her organise support groups, focus on housing and arrange group programs.

Helen was awarded her MBE for services to the community in Cumbria and is looking forward to attending Buckingham Palace to receive her award from Her Majesty The Queen.

Her career has seen her set up Triple A under the Cumbria Reducing Offending Partnership Trust umbrella and set up numerous projects around reducing offending.

Helen began her new role with the Well Community on August 23.

She said: “I’m very excited about this new role and I’ve always admired the Well for all the things it does.

“I’ve known the founder David Higham for about ten years and we’ve worked on a lot of projects together in the past.

“When the opportunity came to work for them came about, I thought it was a no brainer.

“My MBE is for services to Cumbria.

“Through this I was developing charities about reducing re-offending and setting up a charity for adults living with autism with a focus on criminal justice.

“I’ve always wanted to carve my own way and it’s great joining a team that already has a way so it’s a great way to learn from others.

“This week alone I’ve seen some amazing work done by the Well.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to work with them.”

The Wells Community founder David Higham said: “We’re very excited to have Helen working with us.

“We’re very excited about her MBE. She will be the second person in the Well to get one.

“She was on the same honours list as my wife Kerrie.

“She will be working across the South Lakes and Cumbria for housing and developing social groups.

“Monday was when she started and she has a real heart for helping others and we’re so proud of everything she’s done.”