Mansfield volunteer Christine Emery awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday honours for her services to children

Christine Emery 57 has dedicated decades of her life as a volunteer in the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

She began volunteering in the 1980s when she was treasurer of the local mother and toddler group. She has also been a volunteer support buddy for Nottinghamshire Local Authority, helping newly registered childminders with paperwork and giving peer support.

In 2005 she was involved in resurrecting the ailing Childminding Association and at the first meeting she volunteered to be treasurer.

She remained involved for eight years and undertook a variety of roles. Although she stepped down in 2013, the legacy she left behind is a firm foundation of continuing support. She has been a very active volunteer for PACEY, becoming a member of the East Midlands Regional Committee in 2006. She later became National Policy Forum representative for the East Midlands and combined this with being a very active Facilitator for PACEY Local in Nottinghamshire. In 2014 she was given Honorary Life Membership of PACEY in recognition of her continuing support to raise standards of childcare in her area.