Rainbow Living trustee awarded MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

Rainbow Living is delighted to announce that Ruth Airdrie, the charity’s Treasurer, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Birthday 2017 Honours list. 

The award was made in recognition of the voluntary work Ruth has undertaken for Rainbow Living over the last 11 years. Ruth was one of the group of people instrumental in founding Rainbow Living and she has worked tirelessly as a Trustee since then, helping to develop and shape the charity’s unique housing model which provides specially adapted accommodation so adults with learning disability can live as independently as possible in supported living.

Rainbow Living is a small volunteer-run charity, but thanks to the dedication and commitment of its Trustees and volunteers, there are now three Rainbow houses in Devon, each providing high quality, affordable and specially adapted accommodation for adults with learning disability.

Ruth said: “It is a real honour to have been appointed an MBE and I feel truly privileged to have had the opportunity to support learning disabled adults through Rainbow Living’s accommodation projects.

“I am so proud that the tireless commitment of everyone involved with Rainbow Living has been recognised in this way; our work shows how a group of normal, everyday people can put something back and make a real, lasting and positive difference not only to our Rainbow tenants, but also to their wider families and local communities.”

Ruth was part of the group from Belmont Chapel which founded the concept of Rainbow Living in 2000. Rainbow Living was officially registered as a charity in 2006 when Ruth became the Treasurer; since then she has been pivotal in securing funding for the charity.
Before retiring in 2013 Ruth worked as pharmacist in various capacities for the NHS for 38 years. Her final role was working in the Public Health Department of NHS Devon. Her son is a tenant at the first Exeter Rainbow House and she has experienced first-hand the benefits of supported living for both her son and her wider family which has been a great motivating factor.

Find out more about Rainbow Living at http://rainbowliving.org.uk/