A charity that supports the most isolated villages around Suffolk has won a prestigious international social service award.
The Rural Coffee Caravan, best known for its fleet of coffee caravans which visit Suffolk’s most isolated villages and help to tackle loneliness, has scooped the 2023 European Social Services Award.
The charity’s chief executive, Ann Osborn, attended a special awards ceremony in Zagreb, Croatia, with her husband Michael, who also played a part in the success as the charity’s sustainability officer.
The Rural Coffee Caravan was shortlisted for the Service Delivery Award category and was the only UK organisation in that group.
There were 119 entries in total, across six categories, with the focus put on all kinds of person-centred projects across Europe.
Mrs Osborn said that winning the award feels “absolutely incredible."
She added: “I can’t begin to explain how special this feels. So many fantastic projects, so many wonderfully passionate people all in the same room. Everyone is working to make life better for the people they serve.
“The feedback at the networking event was so complimentary. I think we may see some similar projects popping up across Europe.
“I am so proud of everyone in The Rural Coffee Caravan family, and proud to represent Suffolk and the UK.
“Winning was absolutely incredible, but actually, there were no losers in that room. Thank you, European Social Network, for a wonderful event.”
The Rural Coffee Caravan was founded by the Revd Cannon Sally Fogden MBE to improve well-being and connect communities where there was often no hall or other meeting place, shop, pub or public amenities.
Now it has a fleet of three campervans and one caravan and, in any typical year, visits more than 350 villages, as well as attends dozens of country fairs and other popular rural events.
Recently, the charity fundraised to repair two of its caravans, Audrey and Lottie.
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