Plungington Community Champion Award: Emma Worden Honoured for Outstanding Service

By Caritas Care

Caritas Care’s Plungington Community Centre is celebrating a proud moment as Community Worker Emma Worden has received national recognition for her outstanding service and support to local residents. Emma was honoured with a Places for People Community Champion Award, recognising her dedication, compassion, and commitment to the Plungington community over the past eight years.

Recognising dedication and community spirit

Emma, who has been part of the Plungington team for almost a decade, was nominated by her colleagues Ben Clayton, Centre Manager, and Hazel Critchley, Community Worker, along with one of the centre’s volunteers. The national award celebrates individuals across the UK who go above and beyond to make a real difference in their communities.

“Emma would never put herself forward for something like this,” said Ben Clayton. “She always plays down her role, but the truth is she’s at the heart of everything we do here. Whether it’s checking in on residents, delivering food parcels, or just being someone to talk to, she goes above and beyond every single day.”

Making a difference in Plungington

Emma’s compassion shines through in the relationships she’s built with local residents, from supporting isolated individuals to connecting people with vital local services.

“It’s just my job, really,” said Emma modestly. “I like to make sure people are okay. If I haven’t seen someone for a while, I’ll check in. We’ve got a good team here,we all look out for each other.”

Her commitment is best shown through stories like that of a local resident living with dementia, who received ongoing support from Emma, the community centre, and local health partners. “That’s a great example of what Emma does,” said Ben. “She makes sure people are cared for and that no one slips through the net.”

The Places for People Community Champion Awards are held annually to celebrate extraordinary contributions from people making a difference across the UK. This year’s ceremony took place at the National Centre for Early Music in York, where award winners from across the country were recognised for their dedication and impact.

“It was lovely,” said Emma. “There were people from all over – veterans, volunteers, people doing amazing things in their communities. It was nice to be recognised and part of that.”

The award was presented by Greg Reed, Chief Executive Officer of Places for People, who fondly remembered visiting Plungington Community Centre previously. “He’d eaten lunch here before and was genuinely thrilled to see Emma being recognised,” said Ben.

A well-deserved celebration

Although Emma insists the award belongs to the whole team, her colleagues say the recognition is truly hers.
“It’s on the bookshelf,” Emma laughed. “But I’ve brought it in so everyone here can see it too.”

Ben added: “We’re all really proud of Emma. She represents everything that’s good about Plungington Community Centre — care, connection, and community spirit. It’s fantastic to see that recognised nationally.”