The Chair of the Witham Hub, Tina Townsend, is to receive a British Citizen’s Award (BCA) from the People’s Honours, for her outstanding work in the community of Witham and the surrounding area. The Award was confirmed today (2nd July 2026) by the People’s Honours.
Tina will receive her Award at a special ceremony held at the Palace of Westminster on Thursday 23rd July 2026. The presentation of the Award will be followed by a ‘lap of honour’ open top bus tour of iconic sites in Westminster.
The People’s Honour’s BCA is a prestigious programme in the United Kingdom that celebrates individuals who make extraordinary contributions to their communities. The program, which was founded in 2012, is held bi-annually at the Palace of Westminster. The awards are presented to the winners at a special presentation day at the Palace of Westminster. The BCA’s Independent Assessment Panel evaluates the nominations and ensures that the recipients are recognised for their exceptional work.
In their official citation, the People’s Honours had this to say about Tina and their reasons for giving her the Award:
‘In 1999, Tina survived two life-threatening strokes. This experience exposed her to isolation, loss of independence and the reality of navigating systems at a time of extreme vulnerability. Rather than being defined by adversity, Tina channelled this lived experience into a lifelong commitment to ensuring others are never left unsupported.
a trusted community lifeline
‘Tina founded The Witham Hub as a safe, dignified and accessible point of support. Under her leadership, the Hub has grown from a small grassroots initiative into a trusted community lifeline, providing food security, mental health and peer support. It also supports dementia and long-term condition groups, crisis intervention, advocacy, and assistance for those facing homelessness, domestic abuse and chronic isolation.
‘She has led the installation of 18 publicly accessible 24/7 defibrillators across Witham, Braintree, Hatfield Peverel and Colchester. Through hands-on, values-led leadership, Tina has built strong partnerships across health, voluntary and statutory sectors, and inspired a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. The Hub has expanded into Braintree, with further expansion planned for 2026. Her commitment to public service is not time limited; it is sustained, consistent and deeply rooted in lived experience that spans decades. She also actively volunteers for Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue.’
Ian Boorman, a Hub Trustee, commenting on behalf of the Witham Hub’s Board of Trustees, said: “We are immensely proud of Tina for winning this richly deserved Award. It recognises the tremendous contribution she has made to the community of Witham. Our Town is a much better place because of Tina’s magnificent, proactive efforts over many years.”
Tina said: “I am humbled to receive this Award. I take tremendous pleasure in helping people in my community and I have built a team around me that has worked hard to develop The Witham Hub and all that it does. I see this Award as being a recognition of their efforts as well as my own.”
