insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 07 - September 2015

NEWS HEAD OF CHARITY FUNDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS WINS PM AWARD GCA AWARDS FOR GARDEN CENTRE A Brighton-based charity head, who has built a thriving voluntary organisation that helps run and fund community projects, has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron. Joy De Souza, 80, and her husband Harold took over the House Project in 2003 when it was failing and in thousands of pounds of debt. What started as a team of seven volunteers based in Joy’s shed has now grown to a team of 80 running two charity shops and a community centre. The Project now delivers a broad range of community initiatives across five towns delivering everything from school equipment to counselling sessions to Christmas dinners. All of their work is funded by two charity shops and serves five towns from Rottingdean to Seaford. Joy, who runs the charity alongside her normal job of renting out student accommodation, is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements. The Haskins Garden Centre at Snowhill near Copthorne scooped four awards of merit from the annual Garden Centres Association awards. This year the team walked away from the presentation evening held in Southampton with certificates for the categories Garden Construction, Outdoor Living, Indoor Lifestyle, and the Check Out area. David Lilly, General Manager at the centre, said: “We are pleased to have gained the four merits. I’m delighted that our hard working team has been able to impress both customers and GCA inspectors as we continue to invest in the enhancement of the centre.” Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Under Joy’s leadership the House Project has inspired 80 volunteers to give their time to help make a difference in their local community – from counselling sessions to Christmas dinners. Joy’s energy and commitment to helping charities is outstanding and I am delighted to recognise her service by making her the UK’s 314th Point of Light.” NEW RESTAURANT T

insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 07 - September 2015 | Page 14