A selfless campaigner is in the running for a top award.
Lucy Lucy, founder of and full time volunteer at Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield (DASH), is one of only five people from across the UK in the final of Britain’s Best Volunteer Award.
And now the public are needed to help her win the accolade, hosted by Markel and the Small Charities Coalition.
They will also give £1,250 to the winner’s charity and £1000 personal prize of holiday vouchers.
Lucy was nominated for dedicating her life to improving those of destitute asylum seekers, who are unable to access statutory support or those in danger of homelessness, and refugees.
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She set up the charity in 2011 after witnessing asylum seekers sleeping rough on the town’s streets.
With a small team of volunteers she helped them to find accommodation and established ways to provide support, including legal advice, for them if their first asylum claim failed.
After the local council’s support service for refugees and asylum seekers closed in 2012, Lucy moved the organisation’s work up a gear by registering the charity formally and building partnerships with local organisations to fill the void.
Since DASH was formed, hundreds of people seeking sanctuary in the town have been helped by the kindness of Lucy, whose only source of personal income is being a private tutor on weekends.
Under her leadership, the group has raised over £70,000, which has allowed it to expand over the years.
This includes drop in clinics, assistance with the appeals process, food parcels, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes and social and cultural activities .
Most recently, she and her team have been working with newly-arrived Syrian families in the town.
Val Johnson, who nominated Lucy, said: “Passionate and committed - she never gives up and never takes no for an answer.
“The welcome is there because of one woman’s efforts.”
People can vote for Lucy at until March 18 by going to www.markeluk.com/britains-best-volunteer
