A CHARITY’s founder has been recognised for her work with the homeless, receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Brenda Fogg started Hope Restored eight years ago, at which time it was simply serving sandwiches in church on a Sunday after Mass when a caretaker of the Gloddaeth United Church in Llandudno.

Now located at the Lighthouse Church in the town, the charity continues to grow. There are now two to three new people coming in through the doors each week.

Mrs Fogg said: “My passion has always been helping the homeless, I just have so much love to give to them.

“It has been the most emotional journey, but absolutely worth it.

“There have been lots of highs and lows and in the last two years it has just got bigger and bigger to the point now we are not just helping the homeless.”

She has already received a number of awards for her charity work including the Citizenship Award at the annual She Foundation International Women’s Day Awards in 2016.

But she said the BEM was the biggest accolade yet.

Recalling the moment she found out she was to receive the medal, Mrs Fogg said: “I just cried. It is a massive, massive thing.

“Just to be recognised is fantastic.

“But I don’t do it for the awards and the accolades, I do it to help the homeless. Both my husband and I are very proud.”

In the past eight years she has helped more than 550 people in need, with about 70 per cent of these now housed, working and/ or having moved away after rehab.

Mrs Fogg said some of the people she has helped over the years have even come back to take on volunteer roles with Hope Restored.

To ensure the charity reaches the maximum amount of people she delivers food and blankets, often late at night, while also checking on the welfare of the homeless.

Before Hope Restored the nearest night shelters were in Rhyl and Bangor. The charity provides everything from food, drink and clothes to toiletries, supply packages and sleeping bags.

Colwyn Bay man Huw Vaughan Thomas was also recognised in the Birthday Honours list.

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work as an aviator general and services to the public audit and accountability in Wales.

North Wales Police Chief Constable Mark Polin has been appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to policing.

Mr Polin, who is to retire from the force, said: “I am humbled and feel deeply privileged to have been recognised in this way.

“I don’t regard the award as a reflection of my own achievement, but rather that of the police service and more particularly, the teams I have worked with.”

Mr Polin will leave his post next month before becoming chairman of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in September.