A retired nurse who championed White Rock’s Vine Youth Clinic is to be recognized next week with a Good Neighbour Award.
Andrea Huckle’s “steadfast dedication to youth and the clinic’s practitioners” has been a 10-year commitment, a news release issued last month notes.
“Ten years ago, South Surrey and White Rock did not have a youth clinic. With an ever-growing population and specific needs within the youth community, the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry of Health and Alexandra Neighbourhood House recognized the gap in services and opened the doors of Vine Youth Clinic,” the release states. “Since that day, retired nurse Andrea Huckle has championed and supported VYC as the volunteer clinic co-ordinator.”
Huckle, who trained as a nurse and midwife in Britain, became involved in the clinic – which offers sexual, mental and general health and addiction services for youth – after answering a newspaper ad to volunteer her expertise and experience working with isolated communities.
She described the clinic as “very much a team.”
“We talk about our projects and support each other, which has opened a huge arena of resources and loads of support,” Huckle said in the release. “I like to think we make a difference and we benefit the community; together we are stronger, and we couldn’t have done this without our team.”
Penny Bradley, executive director of Alexandra Neighbourhood House, described Huckle as “tireless in her effort to support and navigate the health needs of youth in (the) community.”
She noted the clinic was founded by Dr. Grace Park.
Huckle will receive her Good Neighbour Award at May 11 at Fraserview Hall in Vancouver.
The event takes place during Neighbourhood House Week, which celebrates neighbourhood houses and those who make their work possible.