Alan Lindsley, the winner of the MSIF Nicholson Award for International Caregiver of the Year 2004, has been made MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the 2008 New Year Honours List, for his services to the Sunderland branch of the UK MS Society. The MBE is a British order of chivalry established in 1917 by King George V.

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Alan Lindsley

Having evaluated all nominations from all over the world, the MSIF Persons with MS Advisory Group have identified the winner of the Nicholson Award for the International Caregiver of the Year 2004. Although a difficult task, they found that the nomination of Alan Lindsley from the UK stood out from the rest. This is the winning nomination:

Who Alan cares for
Alan is 68 years old and cares for his wife Joan who has had MS for 35 years. Joan has been a wheelchair user for the past 20 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Alan worked in the motor trade for 47 years and retired in 1997. He worked full-time up to the age of 60, continued to care for his wife Joan, and also found time to work as a volunteer in the demanding roles outlined below.

Involvement with the national MS society, local branch or community
Alan was a Trustee on the UK MS Society Board from 1987 - 1996, Chairman of the Northern Association and then of North of England Region, as well as Chairman of the Sunderland branch for 21 years.

His innovative approach to his work has paid dividends over many years. The Northern Association was the first to provide information days for people affected by MS (late 1970s, early 1980s). He was the first branch chairman to negotiate a partnership arrangement for the appointment of a MS Specialist Nurse for Sunderland (possibly even a first for the UK MS Society) and he also negotiated a partnership for a specialist MS physiotherapy role for the local area.

Sunderland was the first area to have MS carers’ meetings on a regular basis, due to Alan’s foresight.

In his role as a regional volunteer, Alan makes a point of visiting each branch regularly, and has supporting branches facing difficulties on many occasions.

He also represents people with MS and carers on a number of committees within the local health and social care sector and is seen by senior health and social care professionals as the voice of people with MS and carers within the local area. His success at representing their needs is reflected in the high quality and level of services within Sunderland.
He is also Vice Chairman of the Princess Royal Trust of Carers (PRTC) Carers Centre in Sunderland, speaking regularly at PRTC conferences.

Special elements that make Alan stand out from other carers.
Alan is the sort of person who does not like to be in the limelight but has worked tirelessly in the background, making sure that people without the support of carers, were supported and helped in any way needed.

Alan cares about the work of the MS Society 24 hours a day 7 days a week. He has even opened up his home as an information centre, running sessions called ‘Answers’ on Thursday afternoons for anyone requiring help.

Any additional information that may be relevant
Alan even provided support for a fellow trustee, acting as her carer when they were both on MS Society business, driving her across the UK for meetings. She states freely that she would not have been able to carry out her role were it not for Alan’s ongoing support.