Val Hewison: Civic honour for Carers Leeds stalwart

The words of Val Hewison, a long-time advocate for unpaid carers across Leeds, after receiving one of the city’s highest civic honours.

She was presented with the prestigious Leeds Award this week in recognition of her dedication, in working with and supporting unpaid carers across the city.

Val recently retired from her role as CEO of Carers Leeds, where she led the organisation to national and international acclaim as a beacon of best leadership and support to unpaid carers.

The Leeds Award formally recognises those who have made an enormous contribution to the city, with their names proudly displayed on the wall in the antechamber of Leeds Civic Hall.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun Asghar Khan, speaking at the event said: “It is an absolute honour to be able to present the Leeds Award to Val. Her work championing unpaid carers across Leeds is a true inspiration for all those looking to do good across Leeds.

The Leeds Award was designed to honour those people that have made an enormous contribution and achieved so much in their respective fields, and there is no better recipient than Val, who has worked tirelessly to champion our city.”

Val said she was "incredibly honoured, very humbled all mixed in with amazement" to receive the Leeds Award.

"I never expected such an honour, and my enormous gratitude goes out to Leeds City Council along with all my colleagues especially across the third sector for their unstinting support and for being on the same page in believing in me and my work supporting unpaid carers across the city," she said. "I wholeheartedly thank everyone on Team Leeds who have contributed to me receiving this Leeds Award. And those thanks go out to every unpaid carer who have really been my inspiration to keep doing the job.

"I loved my work! I hope I’ve made a difference.”

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