I took on the gangs and won, says Karen as she receives empire medal
When Karen Townsley's neighbours became afraid to go out at night due to gangs of youths hanging around causing a nuisance, she decided to do something about it.
The mother-of-five set out to improve life in her local community and now her efforts have been recognised by the Queen with a British Empire Medal.
Mrs Townsley was concerned that her neighbours in Fairlawn Way, New Invention, were too afraid to go outside as gangs congregated each night and there were problems with anti-social behaviour.
She wanted to promote a collective community spirit so that people could feel safe again.
The determined 42 year old set up a community committee for residents to raise their concerns with police and MPs.
The group, called the Allens Rough Residents Association, tried to improve their neighbourhood in various ways, including getting gates installed on grassed areas to stop off-road bikers from riding around and causing a nuisance.
Within weeks, police patrols had been increased and the number of incidents had fallen.
"I had just got to the point where enough was enough," she said. "My children were growing up in an area where I worried for their safety and I couldn't live like that."
Now her efforts to improve life in her neighbourhood have been recognised with the prestigious award.
The medal was presented at her workplace where Mrs Townsley's family and friends watched the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Paul Sabapathy, present her with the prestigious BEM medal.
Mrs Townsley, who now lives in Bloxwich, had no idea that she had been nominated until a letter arrived in the post.
"I was so amazed when it came through, but now I am just honoured to have been recognised in such a way," she said.
"It was a lot of hard work, juggling my job, my family life and trying to change my community for the better.
"There were times when my home was vandalised when people realised that it was me who had got the ball rolling for all these changes to cut down crime.
"That was genuinely tough, but now the area is better than it was, so it was all worth it," said Mrs Townsley, who works in Willenhall Jobcentre.
"This medal is a lovely token that I am very proud of and it was great that my family got to come to the ceremony," she said.
