A COUPLE who have devoted their lives to helping adults with learning difficulties have been nominated for a Pride of Essex Award.
Ray and Heather Ablett, who are the managers of Acorn Village, in Mistley, will be heading to Anglia Ruskin University, in Chelmsford, next week to see if they have won the Ultimate Award for 2014.
Mrs Ablett’s parents founded Acorn Village, which has now grown into a thriving community for people with learning difficulties.
The pair were put forward by their colleagues Kate Williams and Carly Cridland, which came as a total shock to the charitable couple.
“It is a bit of a surprise,” Mr Ablett said.
“We have been working at Acorn Village since it began in 1975.
“It has grown so much since then and I am so proud of what we have now, including our creative craft centre.
“We started with nothing and now we have an organisation which helps 62 people with learning difficulties, not just on site, but also further out in the community.”
Kate, who nominated the pair, said: “We put them forward for all the hard work they do with Acorn Village and all the money they have raised for charity over the years."
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