Kindness Kitchen and Shoebury Men's Shed Among Southend's Volunteer Award Winners

Ten volunteers and volunteer teams have won the Southend Volunteer Awards 2026, presented on 22 October by SAVS, the Southend Association of Voluntary Services, at a finals dinner that brought together volunteers, charities, community groups, businesses and sponsors.

The winners range from a kitchen team and a Men’s Shed to Southend Youth Council, a rape crisis charity’s board and Southend-on-Sea Athletics Club. Each category also had a shortlist of finalists, listed further down.

The ten winners

• Community Inclusion and Connection: Chris Gostling, Shoebury Men’s Shed
• Health and Wellbeing: Hope Everett, In This Together
• Environmental Champion: Helen Shine, Surfers Against Sewage
• Innovation in Volunteering: Margaret Durkan, HARP
• Team Award: The Kindness Kitchen Team, St Vincent de Paul Society Southend
• Youth Volunteer of the Year: Jocelyn Ayao, Southend Youth Council
• Trustee of the Year: Ros Dunhill, Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis
• Inspirational Volunteer of the Year: Yasmin and Paul Brennan, Charlie Boys Angels
• Lifetime Achievement: John Collier, South Essex Advocacy Services
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport: Keith Palmer, Southend-on-Sea Athletics Club

“A story of someone making Southend a kinder place”

SAVS says the awards exist to “shine a light on people who often give their time quietly and without expectation of recognition”.

Anthony Quinn, chief executive of SAVS, said: “Southend is incredibly fortunate to have so many people who are willing to give their time, skills, and energy to help others.

“The Volunteer Awards are our opportunity to celebrate those people and to make sure their contribution does not go unnoticed. Behind every nomination is a story of someone making Southend a kinder, healthier, more connected, and supportive place to live.

“While only one winner can be selected in each category, being nominated and reaching the final is an achievement in itself. We would like to congratulate every winner and finalist and thank every volunteer across Southend who continues to make a difference.”

Emma Jellett, community projects manager at SAVS, thanked the people who put names forward. “We’d like to say a huge thank you to every organisation and individual who took the time to nominate a volunteer this year,” she said. “The nominations gave us the opportunity to hear so many wonderful stories about people who give their time to support others across Southend.

“We’re also incredibly grateful to all our sponsors, whose support makes it possible for us to celebrate our volunteers in the way they deserve. The awards are a real community effort, and it was fantastic to bring together volunteers, charities, community groups, businesses, and partners to recognise the people who do so much for our city.”

What each award was for

SAVS set out what each category recognised:

• Community Inclusion and Connection: volunteers who bring people together and help everyone feel welcome and included.
• Health and Wellbeing: volunteers improving the physical and mental wellbeing of others through care and support.
• Environmental Champion: people protecting and improving Southend’s environment.
• Innovation in Volunteering: volunteers using fresh ideas and new approaches.
• Team Award: groups of volunteers working together towards a shared goal.
• Youth Volunteer of the Year: young people showing initiative and a commitment to positive change.
• Trustee of the Year: people giving their time, knowledge and leadership to help local charities thrive.
• Inspirational Volunteer of the Year: volunteers whose compassion and determination inspire others.
• Lifetime Achievement: volunteers who have dedicated many years to supporting others.
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport: volunteers using sport to bring people together and support wellbeing.

Every finalist and sponsor

The shortlists, as SAVS published them:

• Community Inclusion and Connection: Avenue Baptist Church, Shoebury Men’s Shed, Southend Fibromyalgia Group. Sponsored by South Essex Colleges Group.
• Health and Wellbeing: Brook Southend, In This Together, Havens Hospices. Sponsored by Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, Admiral Court.
• Environmental Champion: Surfers Against Sewage, a local community volunteer, Shoebury Garden Volunteer Team. Sponsored by SUEZ UK.
• Innovation in Volunteering: Project Southchurch, Wellbeing at Garon Park, HARP. Sponsored by Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club.
• Team Award: St Vincent de Paul Society Southend, HARP, The Fishermen’s Chapel. Sponsored by The ROSCA Trust.
• Youth Volunteer of the Year: Southend Youth Council volunteers, a Little Heroes ASD volunteer. Sponsored by Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics.
• Trustee of the Year: Milton Community Partnership, Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis, Little Heroes ASD Support. Sponsored by Jefferies Solicitors.
• Inspirational Volunteer of the Year: St Vincent’s Centre Southend, Charlie Boys Angels, Headway Essex. Sponsored by The Joseph Toomey Charitable Foundation.
• Lifetime Achievement: Samaritans, HARP, South Essex Advocacy Services. Sponsored by Citizens Advice Southend.
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport: HARP, Southend-on-Sea Athletics Club, Blue Therapy Active.

HARP appears on four shortlists, more than any other organisation, and won one of them through Margaret Durkan’s Innovation in Volunteering award.

What it means for you

SAVS thanked “the hundreds of volunteers working throughout Southend every week”. If one of the winners’ causes has caught your eye, the organisations above, from the Kindness Kitchen at St Vincent de Paul Society Southend to Surfers Against Sewage and Southend-on-Sea Athletics Club, all run on volunteers.