COMPASSIONATE Inverclyde founder Alison Bunce has secured a second royal seal of approval after being named one of the UK's Coronation Champions.
The award-winning community group leader set up her ground-breaking movement to channel kindness in the community as a way of changing the way people are treated in life and death.
Her Coronation Champion title was awarded only weeks after Compassionate Inverclyde were presented with the highest honour for voluntary service, the Queen's Award, one of the last to be bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
READ MORE: Two Greenock Irish dancers both crowned world champions in Killarney
Now as the King begins his reign, Alison herself is part of history as she is recognised for her own 'outstanding and selfless' service.
Alison, 59, will now be invited to a garden party celebration at Holyrood.
She said: "I was so shocked and surprised to be named as one of the Coronation Champions. It is such an honour to be recognised in this way in the Coronation year.
"This is really recognition for the volunteers and all the wonderful work they do to make Compassionate Inverclyde a success.
"It has been a really special time for us after receiving the Queen's Award recently, which was another great occasion."
The Compassionate Inverclyde founder stood out from thousands of nominations to be named one of only 500 champions from across the whole of the UK.
The scheme was launched by the Royal Volunteer Service as part of the celebrations for the Coronation of King Charles III this weekend.
Alison, who is an award-winning palliative care nurse, says she never imagined the extent of the impact Compassionate Inverclyde would have when she first set it up in 2016.
Since then she has created a 'No One Dies Alone' movement, with a team of willing volunteers who are ready to be by the bedside of people in their final hours in hospital or at home.
The team also run a 'Back Home' box service for patients leaving hospital and spent the winter sending out 'warm boxes' to those in need to combat the cost of living crisis.
Compassionate Inverclyde has been at the forefront of fighting social isolation and loneliness, working with other projects to help as many people as possible.
During the pandemic Compassionate Inverclyde, like other grassroots projects on the ground, was a lifeline support for those isolating on their own during lockdown.
For access to more exclusive local news subscribe to the Greenock Telegraph HERE
Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire Peter McCarthy was delighted to be on hand to present Alison with her commemorative Coronation medal and certificate.
He said: "It is wonderful to have someone from Inverclyde recognised in this way. I was also greatly honoured to present Compassionate Inverclyde with the Queen's Award most recently.
"This is about the amazing contribution that Alison has made in taking Compassionate Inverclyde forward."
Kilmacolm's Muriel Searle, MBE, another award-winning charity worker nominated Alison for the award.
Fellow volunteer Muriel said: "Alison is truly inspiring, she puts everything into Compassionate Inverclyde. It comes from the heart.
"She has these spontaneous ideas that come from the heart and she puts them into practice and turns them into something incredible.
"There is no one who deserves to be a Coronation Champion more than Alison."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here