At just twenty years of age Chloe Lawson from Baillieston has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the West of Scotland.
A sessional staff member with the charity Scottish Sports Futures, Chloe has been a volunteer for the past six years and a positive role model for young people, particularly in the East End of Glasgow. Understanding first-hand the pressures of living in poverty, Chloe can relate to the many young people she supports.
“I was in total shock when I found out and can’t believe it. I’m so pleased. I really love what I do and if I can help anyone I will. Young people are facing real struggles and often they just need someone who will listen and understand their issues. It doesn’t take much to do that, but it makes a big difference.”
She set up her own youth service in Baillieston in recognition that there was nothing locally for young people to do. She spoke to councillors, funders, parents and teachers to ensure that action was taken, and the service was launched.
Chloe was instrumental in supporting young people through Covid by setting up creative consultation methods to understand the needs of both individuals and communities and how young people were being affected by the pandemic. She volunteered to create mental health and wellbeing modules for young people to be delivered by Scottish Sports Futures young leaders and worked out how to deliver the modules online to support people during lockdown. She also created wellbeing packs that were sent out to participants during the lockdowns providing families with activities but also to show that people cared for them during the difficult and challenging times.
Currently fulfilling her dream of studying Community Development at Glasgow University, Chloe is the first person in her family and close family circle to do so.
“Chloe is an exceptional person and truly a shining light. She is creative and always puts others first. She cares passionately about creating meaningful change and is very forthright in her ideas. She understands more than most the needs and challenges young people were facing, and still are, and why young work principles with physical activity is so needed.We are all over the moon that Chloe has been recognised in this way and it’s a fantastic and well-deserved achievement.”
