One of our tenants is celebrating this week after she was given a certificate by her employer to recognise her outstanding long service.

Nicola, (pictured below) has worked at the British Heart Foundation at one of their Birmingham outlets for an astonishing 17 years and has now been presented with an award.

She was delighted when we caught up with her, saying: “I love working there, the staff are so friendly.”

Nicola began working there after a visit to the shop, as she remembered: “I went in with my friend a long time ago, and I thought it would be really good to do.”

She is part of the furniture at the Town Centre premises and her duties are varied. Indeed, she had been on a shift before arriving at Head Office, as she explained: “Sometimes I work upstairs doing the Gift Aid in the office, but today I was watching the tills and talking to customers.”

She has no plans to leave, either, adding: “I go there three times a week, I look forward to seeing the other ladies and helping at the shop.”

Nicola is just one of many Residents and Tenants in the Trust performing these vital roles in their communities, and she was proud to show her certificate: “It’s really nice to show everyone and I am proud to have been there that long.”