Warmest congratulations to Essex estate agent Richard Hair. He helps run a charity which has just received a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Hair, a former president of the National Association of Estate Agents, is the chairman of Homeless Action Resource Project (HARP) in Southend.
News of the honour was announced during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend..
Staff and volunteers at HARP were overjoyed to learn the accolade was being bestowed upon them in their tenth anniversary year.
The charity was nominated for the award by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and visited by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, as part of the assessment process.
He recommended approval to a local assessment panel which sent a citation to the national award committee, a body made up of volunteering experts from across the UK.
They in turn endorsed the nomination and sent it through to the Cabinet Office where it was forwarded to the Queen for final approval.
HARP has 26 paid staff and 35 volunteers, and provides day and night facilities for rough sleepers and the homeless, plus many other kinds of help and support.
Staff and volunteers perform vital tasks including cooking, cleaning and reception duties, distributing food and clothing and helping to run organised activities.
Last year alone HARP helped more than 1,500 people to overcome their problems and return to a normal life in the community.
Richard Hair is pictured second from left.
Comments
Congratulations - and sincere hopes that your charity work will reap rewards for you, Mr Hair!
Congratulations to Richard and all the work he must put into this charity. I remember him as being an excellent NAEA president. He is what all local Agents should be, a true example of leadership in his community. Terrific stuff!
Well Done Richard