Maggie represents HARP at 2024 awards

Award winning volunteer! 

Earlier this year, as organisations up and down the country began thinking about how they would mark National Volunteer’s week, we saw the announcement of the inaugural Southend Volunteer Awards. The Awards dinner took place at the Roslin Beach Hotel on June 27th, 2024.

HARP celebrated the contribution of its own volunteers on Friday 7th June at an afternoon tea celebration held at The Royal Hotel. At this event awards were given to volunteers to recognise length of service and to celebrate those volunteers who bring a little extra to their duties. One recipient was Maggie Payne who was nominated by staff across HARP as an Inspirational Volunteer.

Maggie has been volunteering for HARP for over eight years. She volunteers once a week in our Southchurch Road shop and once a week in the Vera House kitchen. As well as her regular volunteering, Maggie also volunteered once a week at our cold weather shelter from November 2023 to March 2024.

In addition to our own in-house award, Maggie’s commitment saw her nominated for the Inspirational Volunteer award at the SAVS Volunteering Awards event.  Volunteer coordinator Stevie Hickman was overjoyed to find out that Maggie was a finalist for this award while Maggie confused she was lost for words!

On the night, the Inspirational Volunteer Award went to Run Free and South East & Central Essex Mind volunteer, Chris Phillips. Maggie was presented with a 2024 finalist certificate which is certainly something to be very proud of.