THE general manager of Malmesbury-based charity HEALS is set to receive an award for her community work.

Alison Cross-Jones was nominated for the Lift Effect award in April, which celebrates 100 woman making an impact locally and globally across the world, and was announced as the winner on May 12.

Founded in 2011, HEALS has continued to help and provide support to those living in poverty and to the vulnerable and disadvantaged in the community. Mrs Cross-Jones, who moved to Malmesbury more than 20 years ago, was one of the original founders.

She said: “This award is lovely for me but it is for me to share with the HEALS team because it is not just me on my own. I work with lovely volunteers and a great management team and without them I wouldn’t be able to do things like this.

“It is also an award for Malmesbury as these women are from all around the world and in the middle of it is a little market town called Malmesbury and it puts Malmesbury on the global map.

“I am very excited about the day and I have spoken to a couple of the other winners who have said some lovely, kind things and I am sure I am going to learn a lot about the work other people from all over the world are doing to make a difference in their communities.”

While the awards celebrate the achievements of the winners, the conference also allows women to speak about their experiences and encourage others to do more for their community.

Sandra Nelson, founder of Lift Effects, said: “Alison Cross-Jones is to be awarded with a Lift Effects Star Award in celebration and recognition of her selfless act of service to the community and humanity. She has made the world and its environment noticeably better than she met it.

“The Extraordinary Lady Speaks Conference and Star Award has been designed to celebrate people like Alison Cross-Jones, nominated by the very people whose lives they have impacted and we want to say thank you.

“Alison and the 99 women are stars and we want them to keep shining the light!”

For more information and to purchase tickets for the conference and awards in Croydon on June 18 visit www.lifteffects.org.