Southend has come together in a heartwarming celebration of the city's heroes at the 16th annual Citizen of Southend Awards.
This year’s event, sponsored by Adventure Island, recognised the selfless contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a lasting impact on Southend.
The prestigious “Gold Award” went to Leanne Baldwin, whose transformative work through the Lifestreams churches, especially her support for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities, has touched countless lives.
Leanne’s dedication has created a welcoming and inclusive environment for families often in need of extra support.
The “Silver Award” was presented to Diane Atkins, whose tireless involvement in a variety of community initiatives, has earned her the admiration of many across Southend.
This is from supporting the 1312 Air Cadet Squadron to coordinating the popular Chalkwell Parkrun and contributing to The One Love Project.
Sean Blyth, a key figure in Southend’s volunteer scene, received the “Bronze Award”.
His work with Southend YMCA, the “Just Ride” team at Garon Park, and his unwavering support of food banks in the area has highlight his commitment to bettering the lives of others.
This year’s “Heroes Award” was given to Charli Best, whose bravery shone through in a daring rescue of three children at the seafront.
Charli was relaxing on Chalkwell Beach when she spotted three children screaming for help and stuck at a rocky area of the mudflats.
Without hesitation, she raced out to try and save them - carrying a young girl and boy back to safety despite severely cutting her feet in the process and “almost losing her toe”.
Her quick thinking and courage in a moment of crisis are a reminder of the strength and kindness present within the community.
A special honour, the “Teddy Taylor Award”, went to Nikki McCarthy, the founder of PICCPals, an initiative that has produced more than 17,000 PICC line covers.
This provides simple and comfortable PICC line covers free of charge to those going through medium and long-term treatments.
Her commitment to improving the lives of those facing challenging health conditions embodies the true spirit of compassion and care.
A spokesman for Adventure Island said: “Congratulations to all the winners at the 2024 Citizen of Southend Awards.
“This inspiring event, now in its 16th year, celebrates the unsung heroes who make Southend a better place.”
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