THE Prime Minister has recognised a charity founder from Wrexham for providing aid, education and healthcare programmes for disadvantaged children worldwide.

Dave Cooke, who was born in Chester and attended Hoole Secondary Modern, launched the Christmas shoebox appeal in 1990, which has seen more than 100 million boxes of aid distributed to disadvantaged children worldwide.

He began the appeal to provide aid for Romanian orphans following the fall of Ceausescu’s regime, working with friends to lead a convoy carrying £600,000 worth of donated items.

Following this success, Dave established ‘Operation Christmas Child’ to provide further humanitarian aid to communities in Eastern Europe.

After 16 years working with the charity, which merged with American charity ‘Samaritan’s Purse’ in 1995, Dave launched ‘Teams4U’ in 2006, which continues to support children in Eastern Europe through shoebox appeals whilst also providing education and healthcare support to communities in Uganda and Sierra Leone.

The charity delivers educational programmes through vocational colleges, supporting more than 25,000 children in Uganda to learn a trade and basic skills, alongside a programme providing sanitary wear and menstrual health education to schoolgirls in the country to encourage them to stay in education.

Dave is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

In a personal letter to Dave, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The Christmas shoebox appeal you pioneered has such a positive impact on the lives of many children. Your success in growing the annual appeal to deliver millions of boxes to disadvantaged children worldwide is a truly outstanding achievement.

"You should be very proud of your continued work through ‘Teams4U’, which is making a real difference for communities in Uganda and Sierra Leone in helping lift children out of poverty.”

Ian Lucas, MP for Wrexham, said: “I'm delighted to hear Dave has been honoured for his work. He has worked tirelessly to support disadvantaged children across the world and I can't think of anyone who deserves the award more. Congratulations, Dave.”

Dave said: “I feel honoured and privileged to accept this award on behalf of all the amazing volunteers who are the lifeblood of our charity and without whom we couldn’t function.”

Dave is the 1,083rd winner of the Points of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA.

More than 6,000 Points of Light have been awarded in the USA, and former Presidents have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK. There is a similar cross-party approach to the UK programme and MPs from different parties often present their constituents with their Points of Light awards.

Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Points of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.