We would like to congratulate our trustee Margaret Simpson for being presented with an MBE, Member of the British Empire Award in the King’s New Year Honours List 2024.
An MBE award is given to people for outstanding achievement or service to the community; it’s a well-deserved honour for Margaret Simpson who is an invaluable member of our community.
Margaret is involved locally through her support for MyVision Oxfordshire as well as other local service providers. She is also Chair of Oxtalk (Oxford & District Talking Newspaper for the Blind).
Margaret first became aware of MyVision Oxfordshire, previously known as Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB) after she moved to Oxfordshire and was appointed to Oxfordshire County Council, Social Services Bicester to establish Day Care Services. Then in 2010 she joined our board of trustees. “Joining the board was very daunting to begin with,” she said. “I was sitting in amongst a group of people who knew each other very well, some who were visually impaired and therefore had the experience of living with sight loss, members whose day jobs were in the health and social care services specialising in the sight loss services, and others who had the connections needed to attract donations and funding. I was made welcome; I spent time learning all I could about MyVision, the staff team, the user groups and all I needed to know.”
Since she first became involved with us, Margaret has supported our organisation in countless ways: she has helped in reception, called clients about surveys and fundraising projects, built lasting relationships with staff and clients, joined various social meetings, organised fundraising days, helped at our Sight Desk, volunteered at sight awareness days, and she is a regular member on staff interview panels.
“MyVision Oxfordshire is an ever-growing staff team under the leadership of Mark Upton, expanding the diversity of the services and reaching out into the Oxfordshire localities. MyVision Oxfordshire is a vibrant, positive, essential member of the support services of Oxfordshire, and it is an organisation that I am proud to be associated with as a member of the board of trustees,” said Margaret.
Thank you for all your support over the years, Margaret. We would not have been able to grow and evolve without your guidance, knowledge, and expertise. We are proud to have you as one of our trustees; the MBE award is a well-deserved honour for all your amazing contributions to the community.
