East Sussex resident awarded British Empire Medal for setting up Newhaven food project during Covid pandemic

Paula Woolven, 51, is the second person in her family to be named a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).

She received the honour for her work during the Covid Pandemic when she set up the Havens Food Cooperative project in Newhaven to stop supermarket food waste and provide free food for the community. Visit www.havenscommunityhub.co.uk or donate at localgiving.org/charity/havenscommunityhub.

Havens said Paula has been raising money for charities since she was 14, having been inspired by her mother, Marilyn Nolan, who supported the RNIB, the Barn Theatre, DaSH JFC and the Meridian Mature Citizens Forum.