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Family Values Award – Sponsored by NetApp
Jo Lomax- Huggable Heros
In just over 2 years Jo and her mum Julie have given up their nights and weekends to create and sew over 1500 Huggable Heroes. Children don’t understand where dad/mum is or why they are away (as they serve their country at war). They recognise their loved ones photo and becomes a physical member of the family. They cuddle and kiss them, play rough and tumble with them, and take them about their normal day. The aim of Huggable Heroes is to reinforce the bond and reduce seperation anxiety as their loved is away from the home. They started off supporting children but now also support older people who suffer from dementia and such like.
Jane Williams
The Naval Families Federation exists to speak up for Naval Service personnel and their families. The enquiries that come into the organisation are always complex, often multi-layered and invariably only come to the attention of the team when every known avenue to self-help has been pursued.
This is the starting point in the majority cases, which can leave very few options available. This is where Jane operates so well. She has provided a listening and non-judgmental ear for those families over the last 8 years, to understand what the key challenges are, and then seeks to introduce options that will take the enquirer into territory that explores sometimes unexpected routes to achieve the outcome sought.
Jane maintains that she can’t be bothered to be grumpy or unwell, and has on many occasions taken hours to do her grocery shopping when she has bumped into a Naval Service family who need to pick her brain.
The Connell Family
Tony and Liz Connell live at Merryhue Farm in Cornwall and, along with Richard Connell, Tony’s brother, have generously given Battling On CIC free access to the farm. Battling On is a multi-award winning organisation that helps veterans and disadvantaged young people. Merryhue Farm is a beautiful 124-acre registered Care Farm. Tony, Liz and Richard manage the farm which is a unique and healing environment and the Connell family have given free rein to Battling On to access the land and buildings. The Connell family, particularly Tony and Liz, and their daughters Katie Connell and Nikki Markham, have given many hours of time for individuals, giving advice and practical help, sometimes simply listening quietly, offering empathy and understanding to people who are often overlooked by society. This many seem a small effort, but in a busy world it can be easy to say, “wait a minute”, without realising that in that minute the moment has passed. This is something that the Connell family understands.
