DARTMOUTH Caring’s president and long-standing volunteer Iris Pritchard has been recognised for her service and dedication.

She has been given a three-day hotel stay after being nominated by the charity for the Room to Reward scheme, which recognises hidden heroes within the community.

Established last year, Room to Reward provides hotel breaks to deserving individuals within registered charities across the UK.

The scheme has donated more than 100 room nights over the last 12 months, giving a well-earned break to 35 unsung community stalwarts.

The hidden heroes are men and women who are often overlooked but who actually make great sacrifices for the benefit of others and contribute hugely to society. Their actions are what strengthen and inspire the wider community.

The Room to Reward initiative recognises their work and the need to have time to rest, breathe and reconnect with ourselves.

Iris, who is also a town councillor and a former mayor of Dartmouth, was nominated by Dartmouth Caring. She has been the president of the charity for nine years and a volunteer who is heavily committed to all aspects of its work.

She cooks for its Thursday lunch club of up to 15 people and helps with many fundraising events.

Iris said she was ‘over the moon’ to learn of her nomination and is excited to be going away.

She will enjoy three-day break at the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno with her daughter-in-law.

Dee Nutt, chairman of Dartmouth Caring, said: ‘We are so grateful to Iris for everything she does for us.

‘This is a wonderful way for us to show our gratitude and appreciation. We hope she has a fantastic time and a well deserved break.’

Dee also thanked Charlie Deuchar, from the Bayard’s Cove Inn, for becoming a charity hotel partner.

The Room to Reward charity has been created to allow hotels to offer a complimentary stay to deserving individuals rather than leave rooms empty.

Those high-profile hotel companies already on-board, including Elite Hotels, Brook Hotels, New Forest Hotels, Harbour Hotels, Greenclose Hotels, Dalhousie Castle in Scotland, plus two Indigo Hotels in Paris and Berlin.

Charity partners include Autism Wessex, Wales Air Ambulance, Home Start, Macmillan, Dingley Family Support, Hampshire Air Ambulance and Dartmouth Caring.