Havens Founder Receives Prestigious Award

The Founder of Havens Community Hub (Havens Food Cooperative Havens Happy Clubs Havens Community Cars CIO) Paula Woolven, attended an Investiture Ceremony at Lewes Town Hall on Thursday 30th May with her family and attended a rather wet garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 20th May with Dawn Norman, Hub Senior Manager.

Paula was awarded the British Empire Medal (B.E.M) for her years of community service, in particular how Havens Community Hub stepped up their work during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

She was presented with the medal by Mr Andrew Blackman CStJ, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for East Sussex at a lunchtime event hosted by the Mayor of Lewes, Councillor Imogen Makepeace, with the High Sheriff, Lucinda Fraser DL and Juliet Olsworth-Peter JP DL in attendance.

Her citation was read out by Paul Davis, Deputy Lieutenant. It included references to her work with the Havens charities and projects and her years of fundraising and volunteering for other charities including Seaford Musical Theatre, DaSH Junior Football Club and Community Transport for the Lewes Area. To date, Paula has raised over a million pounds for East Sussex charities and good causes and remains on the front line of vital work in the Lewes District

She dedicated the award to the volunteers and staff at Havens Hub, Food Coop, Happy Clubs and Community Cars and says she is grateful for the hundreds of people who have helped her in her charitable endeavours.

She was inspired by her mother, Marilyn Nolan (pictured), who was herself awarded the B.E.M. in 2016, for a lifetime of volunteering.