County council staff receive awards in Queens Birthday Honours
Announced earlier today, Jill (Gillian) Barker, from Gloucestershire Libraries, and Roger Pickett, Coleford Watch Manager for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, have both been awarded Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (British Empire Medal, BEM) from the Queen.
Cllr David Norman MBE, cabinet member responsible for Libraries and GFRS, said: “These are absolutely fantastic accolades for everyone in Gloucestershire and it’s great to see special recognition for those who assisted with the response to the pandemic. We are especially thrilled to see Jill Barker from Gloucestershire County Council – libraries and Roger Pickett from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Services recognised. We are very proud of their many achievements, as well as the teams that have supported them. Very well deserved honours.”
Congratulations to both Jill and Roger!
Read the full list of honours here - https://www.gov.uk/honours/honours-lists
Jill (Gillian) Barker, BEM
Jill has had a hugely successful career in libraries and since gaining a senior leadership position has played a key role in the development of Gloucestershire Library Service.
Her standout achievement is the Art of Libraries project. In 2016 Jill partnered with Create Gloucestershire and secured funding for a three-year project to bring Art and Culture to audiences that wouldn’t normally engage and explore how libraries could become a truly public space. Her involvement in the Art of Libraries project led her to transform workforce development in Gloucestershire Libraries by encouraging staff to become peer to peer trainers. This has been valued by staff who have gained experience and skills by helping others. She also introduced Action Learning Sets where staff discuss common problems and create ways to tackle them. The success of this scheme has led to it being adopted within the wider county council. She championed the David Vaisey Prize which recognises
initiatives that increase reading or bring reading and books to new audiences.
She secured funding from the Gloucester Culture Trust for a cultural trainee who works within libraries and local arts organisation ‘Strike a Light’. She played a key role in Gloucestershire becoming a successful part of the Growth Hub network, a model which is being promoted to other authorities, with their Innovation Lab winning two awards.
Roger Pickett, BEM
Roger is a Community Fire Firefighter and is a watch Manager at Coleford Fire Station, he has been instrumental in creating a dementia help care service within the local community. He has supported people that have been identified by the local area help hubs that were not contactable by phone to ensure their wellbeing.
He offers help and support where it is needed and refers members of the community for health assessments where he identifies a need. He often goes the extra mile and over the last few months during this pandemic he has even found himself helping out by cutting an elderly lady's lawn, including regular shopping and collecting medication for those shielding within the community.