A CARER who helps escort children with special needs to The Ridgeway School in Farnham “as if they were her own” has been recognised with a BBC Surrey Community Heroes Award.

June Rasburn, from Grayshott, was named Carer of the Year at the awards ceremony at the Gatwick Crowne Plaza Hotel on November 20, for her work as a passenger assistant responsible for looking after children with complex needs while on school transport.

She has worked for eight years for minibus and coach firm AMK, and, along with her driver, ensures that the journey to and from school is as enjoyable as possible for all the children, as well as liaising closely with parents and members of school staff to provide a positive and happy experience.

The BBC Surrey Community Heroes Awards are held each year to recognise unsung heroes from across Surrey and North East Hampshire.

In presenting June with the Carer of the Year award, judges described her as “so caring, efficient and good humoured in spite of whatever life throws at her” and commented that June “looks after the youngsters, with all their complexities, as if they were her own”.

June was nominated for the award by a grandparent of one of the children she supports, who said: “I felt that June deserved this nomination because she really goes the extra mile when she looks after my grandchild on the special needs bus to school in the morning and at home-time.

“Nobody could look after the children better. She looks after them as though they were her own.”

Andrew Bird, managing director of AMK, added: “On behalf of everyone here at AMK we would like to congratulate June for this fantastic achievement!

“We are incredibly proud of the dedicated and caring way in which she undertakes her role here at AMK on a daily basis. She plays a vitally important role in ensuring that the children in her care are transported safely and comfortably to and from school each day.

“Without people like June we simply could not provide the exceptionally high level of care that the children on our buses deserve each and every day.

“June and all of our passenger assistants do an amazing job and show such commitment to the wellbeing of the children in their care.”

The Dance Movement, a resident dance company at the Farnham Maltings, also narrowly missed out on a Community Heroes award in the music and arts category, for its work as a community dance organisation with a particular focus on working with vulnerable young children.

The overall winner in the 999 category was Surrey Search and Rescue, a group of 90 volunteers on call to the police every day of the year whatever the weather, to search for, find and rescue high risk, missing vulnerable people in Surrey.

Other winners included care provider Surrey Choices Rebound Therapy in Guildford, which uses trampolining to help people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and alike.