The departing chief executive of a charity which has long supported carers in the borough has been nominated for a Local Hero award by a colleague.

Claire Thomas has been at the helm of Hillingdon Carers since 2007. In that time, the organisation has gone from strength to strength, offering a range of services and becoming an invaluable resource for around 5,000 adult and young carers in the borough.

She will be leaving the charity at the end of the month, but insists that she will still do community work, and says she will take with her fond memories.

“It is the carers, the team, and the volunteers that make all the difference, not me,” said Mrs Thomas, of her nomination.

“There have been so many highlights over the years. I am very proud of my team, the high profile the charity now has and, in particular, the work we do with our partners. It has grown massively since I joined.”

Mrs Thomas was put forward as a Local Hero by co-worker Madeleine Jarvis, who said: “Everyone that knows Claire will wish her all the very best in what she chooses to do, and will miss her dearly.”

The 60-year-old was a clinical manager at Hillingdon Hospital before leaving the NHS, and joined the charity in 1999 after seeing the job advert in an Uxbridge Gazette.

“I hadn’t given much thought to what I wanted to do next and a carers organisation hadn’t crossed my mind, but one day I saw the ad on a Gazette under a cat tray at home and I thought, ‘that would be really interesting’.”

She started out as a respite worker, arranging quality breaks for carers and running a support group, before becoming a health liaison worker, and then chief executive.

“There have been a lot of changes over the years, not least in carers themselves seeing that they are carers,” she said. “We support around 4,500 adults and 250 children, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most carers just see it as something you do, and it is the charity’s job to give them a voice.

“You have a vision as you stay in that sector, and I always wanted the charity to be the go-to place for carers.”

Hillingdon Carers can be contact ed by calling 01895 811 206, or email office@hillingdoncarers.org.uk.

Their offices are based at 126 High Street, Uxbridge.

If you know anyone who makes a difference in your neighbourhood, get nominating using the form below! There is less than five weeks until the window for Local Heroes entries closes.

The ceremony is being held on Thursday, June 5.

Nominate your hero using the form above in either the adult or under-18s categories, and consider whether the person is an outstanding young person, star carer, courageous citizen, fabulous fundraiser or community champion.

Our Heroes will get a £50 prize and Superheroes a £200 prize, plus the chance for a further £500 for being the overall Superhero Of Hillingdon.

There will also be commendation certificates.