The founder of a group providing support to refugees was named in the King's Birthday Honours List.

Paul Nixon has been awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).

It comes as recognition of his work supporting Ukrainian refugees in Cheshire East, having launched Congleton Area Ukrainian Support Network (CAUSN) following Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Paul, also a trustee at Refugees Welcome, said: "I am delighted to have received this honour, but it is important to recognise that I could not have done this alone. I

"I'd like to thank all who have supported me through our Ukrainian support project, whether by volunteering, hosting, donating, helping deliver loads of furniture (over 15,000 miles of driving including delivering a baby grand piano!), providing storage space at no cost, teaching English lessons (over 1,350 delivered so far), keeping me sane through wise-words, friends and family tolerating their houses being turned into storage depots and fridge freezer parks, helping with getting our Ukrainians jobs, places and scholarships at universities, safety testing all of our electrical stuff, designing, building and paying for our website and the many people who delivered buckets of kindness to those who really needed it."

Over the past three years, CAUSN has supported over 400 people across Cheshire East and the surrounding boroughs.

This includes helping 120 families to move house, most of whom have escaped the war in Ukraine.

However, CAUSN has also supported Afghan, Syrian, Kurdish and Chagossian refugee families as well as one British domestic violence case.

With the war in Ukraine ongoing, families continue to be forced out of their homes and CAUSN still have many who are in need of sponsors and hosts.

If you can help in any way, contact Paul at [email protected].