Oldbury woman receives MBE for her services to young people
Tracy Marie Lowe MBE joined 10 others in the West Midlands on the New Year Honours list
A woman from Oldbury received an MBE for her services to young people after setting up a youth group that supported Oldbury children across 30 years.
Tracy Marie Lowe MBE founded Wallace Youth Project because she was worried about her younger brothers getting involved with the wrong crowds.
"Myself and a couple of other parents were being called to speak to the council all the time. There was big anti-social behaviour issues and nothing for the young people to do.
"I was worried about getting married and leaving my mum to deal with that on her own," she said.
From that point, the group offered a safe space for young people in Oldbury to play.
**_"This does not happen to 'council estate girls' like me"_**
She takes children on trips away too; they went to see Santa at Christmas and visited Butlins in summer:
"I know some 9 and 10-year-olds that have not even been on a beach before.
"To see them enjoying the fun fair and going in a restaurant to have something to eat, is just overwhelming," she said.
She told us how she reacted when she was told she made the New Year Honours list:
"I was quite shocked. This does not happen to 'council estate girls' like me," she said.
Who else made the New Year Honours list in the West Midlands?
Tracey joined 10 others in the West Midlands who have been given the MBE title this year.
That includes Marie-Claire Darke who was recognised for her services to Local Government, Disability and Suicide Prevention.
"I was shocked that someone had nominated me.
"To know someone has taken the time to look at all the things that I do and then to be recognised by the King. It is truly humbling," she said.
Marie-Claire is a Councillor at the City of Wolverhampton Council.
She spent her 16 years in office to improving the mental health support in the city.
"We have done several projects focusing on what it is that makes us happy. That may be a walk in the park, drawing a picture or writing a poem," she said.
One forum in the area benefitted from £19,000 of her financial support, and now supports 1,000 people locally and nationally.
Marie-Claire promised her work would continue into 2025:
"We have got several other projects in the pipeline alongside activities in Wolverhampton for suicide prevention.
"The New Year is looking very positive," she said.
Rayo Premium