The Chief Executive of a local organisation has said the MBE he was awarded was a “testament” to all the work it has done over the past almost 30 years.

Pat McGurn, Chief Executive Officer of Lakeland Community Care, based in Belcoo, was recognised for his services to the community in County Fermanagh and Tyrone in His Majesty King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours list.

The annual list recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK, from all walks of life, and has once again featured people from Fermanagh and the surrounding areas.

Lakeland Community Care (LCC) has been to the forefront of providing domiciliary care, day care and flexi-care in rural Fermanagh and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019.

Pat has worked with the organisation since 2004 and has been involved in many of LCC’s achievements, such as the new Healthy Living Centre in Belcoo, winning the Western Health and Social Care Trust tender, winning a number of community awards, and also hosting the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex to help celebrate the 25th anniversary.

Since 1994, LCC has formulated, implemented and managed services aimed at meeting the health and wellbeing of older people and minimising social isolation.

The staff are locally-based and have a knowledge of the area and the needs of the community.

Speaking about receiving the MBE, Pat modestly said: “It is more recognition for the group than for me. I am only the manager, so it is recognition for all the people that have worked [at LCC] over the past 30 years.

“On behalf of LCC, I want to say it is a privilege to accept the honour on their behalf.

“It’s a testament that a lot of people have put in the work over the past 30 years to get where we are today, and I want to thank anybody involved in making this decision that we were worthy of the honour.”

Pat said he found out about the award at the end of November, before telling his family on Christmas Eve, and he hopes that his MBE will help to create more exposure for the charity.

“Hopefully, it will promote the charity a bit more and what we are doing, and get more money for the charity.

“We hope the exposure will show people what we are doing, and put money into it,” he added.