focused on active case finding, disability aids, diagnostic tools and the mental health needs of those affected by leprosy. Awards In 1998 Lepra received a National Lottery Charities Board award. That same year, Lepra achieved "Investors in People" status. In 2003 Lepra's contributions to the fight against leprosy were recognised at the Third Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Leprosy (GAEL) in Yangon, Myanmar. Ambassadors and Patrons Throughout Lepra's history, the reigning British monarch has consistently been a Lepra patron. King George VI became the first of the Royal family to sponsor children through their adoption scheme at the time, and Queen Elizabeth II became Patron of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) in 1952 following his death. The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard (KG, GCVO), is the current Vice-President of Lepra. Lepra currently has multiple ambassadors who help to support and promote their work: Fiona Duby has worked in 29 countries in Africa and Asia in health and development programmes in both the public and the private sector. She was awarded an MBE for services to Bangladesh in 1992 and an OBE for services to Nigeria in 1999. In 2000, she was invited to join Lepra's Board of Trustees. She became an ambassador in 2015. Victoria Hislop is an author best known for her novel The Island, which features the island of Spinalonga, Greece's former leper colony. Hislop became an ambassador for Lepra in 2013 and has been to India to visit Lepra's projects. Stuart Miles was one of the Blue Peter presenters at the time when Lepra was selected as the charity for Blue Peter's annual fundraiser in 1996. Miles has since visited projects, helping to raise awareness of leprosy and Lepra's appeals. In 2018 Stuart Paver became a Lepra ambassador. He is the managing director of Pavers, the shoe company that has helped fund Lepra's Indian shoe vans. References External links Leprosy organizations Health charities in the United Kingdom Foreign charities operating in Bangladesh Charities based in Essex Foreign charities operating in India Foreign charities operating in Malawi 1924 establishments in India