Find out who won a Southend Citizens Award this year

The awards have been running for ten years and the latest ceremony was held at the Porters Civic House and Mayor’s Parlour in Southchurch Road, Southend.

Nominees are judged on three key elements – achievement, bravery and kindness.

One of the founders of Citizen of Southend Awards, Philip Miller, Executive Chairman of Stockvale Group of Companies, which runs Adventure Island, said: “I can’t quite believe that we have hit our tenth year! We have discovered so many amazing people over the last ten years and this year is no exception.”

This year, there were awards given out to two very special recipients. After the recent passing of the Citizen of Southend Award’s Patron, Sir Teddy Taylor, the judges have renamed the Special award, to the Sir Teddy Taylor Special Award and it went to Southend’s A&E.

"Sophie Alderton, 20, director of charity organisation Pholk, became the youngest Gold Citizen."

This year’s Silver Citizen Award went to Michael Taverner for his dedicated work to the National Coastwatch Institution.

Mr Taverner, who lives in Shoebury, has been volunteering for the group at East Beach for the last 15 years.

He is now the station manager.

Mr Taverner said: “I was very surprised when I found out and thrilled to receive the letter, but it’s really down to the volunteers and team around me, so I have to thank them too.”

Throughout this time Mr Taverner has helped to recruit and train new volunteer watch keepers and has maintained great relationships with the UK Coastguard team and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which has resulted in excellent co-operation between the organisations.

Outside of the National Coastwatch Institution, Mr Taverner dedicates his spare time to other voluntary work.

He has been instrumental in overseeing fundraising and maintenance for the watch station.

SOPHIE Alderton became the youngest ever Gold Citizen of Southend Award – at the age of just 20.

Ms Alderton, who lives in Leigh, started her dedication to charitable causes at 15. 

Her journey started when she took her sister to the local Phab club, an organisation that supports children living with a disability. 

Ms Alderton said: “I was totally surprised when I received the letter to say I had won the Gold Award. 

“I was overwhelmed and very grateful to everyone who voted for me. 

“I was bullied at school because I had a disabled sister which gave me the drive to make a difference. 

“I am now constantly fundraising to officially register Pholk as a charity and looking for more volunteers to help.”

When her sister became too old to attend the Phab club, Ms Alderton took her to Pholk, an Essex-based charity which supports people living with a disability.

But when the club was unable to be maintained any longer Ms Alderton bravely took on the charity herself.

Since then she has organised various trips for the club members and is now the charity’s director.

A statement by Citizen of Southend said: “The committee believed that for her tender age Sophie had already achieved so much and is so generous with her spare time.

"When other teenagers would have been out with friends, she was selflessly helping the community.”

Other winners included: