Surrey Star's Trailblazing Award

30 August 2019

Huge and very well-deserved congratulations to our very own Jean Hassell who at the recent SSAFA Annual Members Meeting was presented with one of the inaugural Sir James Gildea Awards. The awards named after SSAFA’s founder are there to recognise volunteers nationally for their exceptional contribution and commitment to SSAFA’s activities and values.

The award was presented to Jean by SSAFA President, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.

Jean joined SSAFA in 2011 quickly becoming a skilled and dedicated volunteer caseworker before taking over as the Divisional Secretary for the Spelthorne area in 2016; managing our volunteer team and their activities locally. She became an immediate success in this role, being both well-liked and much respected by fellow volunteers and the many people who benefitted from her support in the local area.

In 2018 in response to a critical lack of volunteers in the Camberley area, she also agreed to become responsible for that area in addition to Spelthorne, thus increasing her personal workload considerably. She managed both the Camberley and Spelthorne teams successfully, whilst also recruiting new volunteers to lead the team in Camberley. Also finding time to raise valuable funds to support our work and helping to promote awareness of SSAFA across Surrey.

Despite her increased management responsibilities, she also continued with all her caseworker commitments, some of which were particularly challenging and time-consuming.

I am really delighted that Jean's outstanding contribution to SSAFA Surrey's work has received such high-profile and wide-spread recognition. She epitomises the commitment and dedication of so many of our Surrey volunteers and fully deserves this splendid accolade.  Bob Crawley, Branch Vice-President

Away from SSAFA, Jean is very active in her local community; not least supporting two schools and a number of other local charity causes.

In short; nothing is too much trouble for Jean, we and the people she helps are incredibly lucky to have her and this award is thoroughly deserved. Thank you.