Southend-on-Sea charity, The One Love Project, that works to support vulnerable individuals and families in our community through their services has been awarded the prestigious Kings Award for Voluntary Service.

The One Love Project offers a welcoming, friendly, non-judgemental space that is well supported by professional services and experienced volunteers for those experiencing homelessness, those in active addiction, with complex mental health or experiencing food and fuel poverty.

The charity offers guests comprehensive support in a variety of ways, including warm meals, a sense of community, physical and mental health support, clothing, hygiene and even haircuts at their evening service. At the foodbank, families are provided with food and household essentials, as well as the opportunity to meet other local support services within the community for further help and advice. Running alongside these services, the charity works in partnership with other local charitable and statutory services to deliver other provisions such as the Little Love Baby Bank, their food and cooking initiative, the Wellbeing Wednesday service and a Women’s Only service on a Monday night.

The Kings Award for Voluntary Service celebrates the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK, and runs in annual cycles, starting with nominations in June each year. The King personally selected the winners in the summer months, and the awards are officially announced on His Majesty’s The King’s Birthday.

Sharon Yavuz, Chair of The One Love Project said

“Being fortunate enough to have been recognised for this prestigious award not only means our hard work as compassionate professionals driving change is validated, but that the voice of society’s most vulnerable is heard and understood.

The stories we hear from our service users tell of some of life’s most gruelling circumstances, yet they attend our services week in, week out, because they know that this is a safe and traumainformed environment.

Our voluntary and paid staff along with our trustees and partners work tirelessly to provide comprehensive and holistic support to all who come through our doors.”