The award ceremony was hosted by the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce at Stock Brook Manor Golf and Country Club on Friday 10th October, where Saint Francis Hospice was presented with the 2025 Community Engagement Award.
Carol Dodd won the Charity Worker of the Year Award for her incredible fundraising efforts for Saint Francis Hospice which have helped raise almost £70,000 for people who need our palliative and end-of-life care.
Carol has been supporting the hospice since 2003, and for the past 14 years she has led the Doddinghurst Ladies’ Group, which has been running for over 35 years and brings local people together every Friday morning at Priest House, Church Lane in Doddinghurst for tea, cake and conversation.
“The Community Engagement Award recognises the compassionate care the hospice delivers to people living in Brentwood.
“Our success was a testament to all the hard work and dedicated care that the hospice delivers, and we were as proud as punch that this had been recognised by the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce.”
The judges also acknowledged that the Saint Francis Hospice superstore on High Street, Brentwood was an integral part of the Brentwood community, offering an outlet for people to donate pre-loved items as well as enabling people to share the grief they had experienced to the volunteers.
“Carol is an incredible fundraiser and ambassador for Saint Francis Hospice, and she is so deserving of the Charity Worker of the Year Award,” said Jan.
“Alongside the group, Carol does everything she can to raise awareness of the hospice’s services and in her community, so people understand the benefits of the care and support available to people. And she is always happy to promote hospice events taking place.”
Carol said she enjoyed the awards evening but remained humble as always, saying,
“I was really pleased to receive the award as the hospice means so much to me and it means I am helping people who need hospice care.
